On 2007-12-04, Ron Lee wrote:
Personally I can't believe the lack of interest in this on this
newsgroup. I have posted about it twice and included a link to my

I've just read your treatise and find it interesting and well done, Ron.

One reason for lack of interest may be the fact it hasn't been reviewed in
too many aviation magazines as a major component yet. Some of the CFI
publications have spoken of it. Although AOPA has written about it, they are
very concerned, as should be, with the impending questions in congress
regarding user fees, brought up anew by an ill-directed administration.

I followed with some interest the CapStone project in Alaska and while at
OSH one year had a chance to speak with one of the FAA fellows about it. It
definitely has value in increasing safety of flying, whether GA or larger
commercial. But, like any set of statistics, they may be made to say just
about anything you wish and easy to jump to wrong conclusions. The Alaskan
environment is, indeed unique, and the flying even more so. Thus the data
doesn't necessarily, as you pointed out, apply elsewhere. Almost a shame
they included the 45% reduction in accident rates, which is a completely
meaningless figure in their argument.

Some of your points are valid. I think we have to realize that, like many
proposals, some politician jumps to the conclusion that we can reduce costs
by eliminating everything else, hence radar. The same scenerio with GPS.
Why, they were going to completely gid rid of VORs and Loran by now
....hmmmm. Of course now they see that eLoran may be the salvation of the GPS
system for backups and not too many of the VOR approaches have been
eliminated. Even left are NDB approaches, in places.

I agree that costs are too high for the average GA plane owner, especially
if the 'In' features are desired. I'm wondering if, by the time of
implementation of any of this, that prices will have gone down. Of course,
with our opportunistic capitalism in the states, it might not have gone down
too far.

So it's a very good and useful system, but with broad assumptions in the
proposal, and unrealistic requirements of GA for such. I, like you, would
recommend a reassessment of the requirements. Whether you like their
attitudes or not, if AOPA decides to really pounce on this, I would predict
the congressmen would get another viewpoint quickly.

....Edwin
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"Once you have flown, you will walk the earth with your eyes
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