by "Jay Honeck" Jun 8, 2006 at 01:30 PM


Sounds like the FAA is correct in studying older planes, a study which
the
AOPA is (naturally) "opposing."

What's the FAA got to do with it? The aircraft *operators* are FAR more

interested in "studying" their older planes than any government
bureaucracy.

The point you continually miss is that we don't NEED a government entity
involved in GA -- or most anything else in our society. Aircraft
operators
have the highest possible motivation to keep their aircraft airworthy
(I.E.:
Presumably they don't want to die -- I know *I* don't.).

In my lifetime of experience, beyond the basics (road construction,
sidewalks, etc.) government doesn't solve ANYTHING. (Or, at best, after
47
years, I'm still awaiting evidence of any success.)



I don't like regulation much, but some is necessary to protect the public
(speed limits, auto inspections, etc.). The FAA's purported role is
ensuring safety, and as you said, you cannot be sure if a rental has been
damaged from pushing on the wing-tips.

As the planes are coming down onto homes now (another one outside Reno --
fortunately no one on the ground killed this time), the FAA must get
involved. Of course they also want to PROMOTE aviation, so they are
hopelessly conflicted.