Mike Borgelt wrote:
And it has been since the RSA security requirements were introduced in
1997. Why is it suddenly so unfair now after 6 years ?

A) There is now a better (for the pilots) option than a downgrade to
Diamond-level approval, and B) the process was only approved by the IGC
this year.

I think you need to read the r.a.s. archives before making statements
like this. All of the above was done by myself and others when the F.R
proposals were first mooted but all were ignored
You are either ignorant of what really happened or being deliberately
obtuse. I suggest you do a google search for r.a.s. for IGC flight
recorders.

As you well know, I was not a member of GFAC at that time. Anything I
state about then (or now, for that matter) is simply my opinion. If you
want the official word, you know how to contact Ian.

How about a straight answer in public to - is it the intention of GFAC
to approve new designs for "all but World records category"?

Obviously yes, since there is a new design (THEMI) that is approved in
this category.

I'm sure GFAC have a policy, it may just not be the written down
official one based on past history.

There is no written policy at this moment, as the category is less than
a year old, and it's not clear whether any other manufacturers will make
use of it. The whole point is to keep it fairly flexible, so those who
can't or won't go for all flights approval have another category to work
with.

"jump starting the market" in that way as you put it would most
likely contravene the Trade Practices Act (1974) in Australia and land
you with a large fine. Ask the freight companies who were fined after
the ACCC(Australian Consumer and Competition Commission) used an
electronic barograph to prove that goods being sent by "airfreight"
were in fact going by truck between Brisbane- Sydney- Melbourne.

I have no idea what you are talking about.

Marc