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Old June 8th 17, 12:23 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Brian[_1_]
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Posts: 399
Default Letter to the FAA

The problem with a letter the FAA as already noted is that while you have an outcome of the letter in mind the outcome may be significantly different than you expect. But writing a letter is quick, cheap, and easy.
Bad Regulations are often the result of Good intentions.
Better plan, ….
Start Identifying operations that should upgrade their equipment to safer equipment. i.e. Tost Hooks, moving Releasing handles. Insure there actually are options to upgrade i.e. 337’s available or better yet STC’s for doing so for the aircraft they are using.
IF 337’s or STC’s are not available assist in developing them.
Award a Safety Rating/award to operations that have made these improvements..
Contact manufacturers such as American Champion that still sell Schweitzer releases and encourage them to offer Tost Releases and improve the location of these factory release handles.
Contact Cessna and encourage them to offer Tost Releases as a factory option with appropriate release handles.
Start a Fund to help subsidize operations upgrades or to develop STC’s.
Contact the SSA and Volunteer to become a SSF volunteer to educate and develop all the above.
Of course, this is a lot more work than just writing a letter that will likely have limited positive effect and had the potential for negative consequences. But then is saving one life only worth just a letter to the FAA, or is it worth you paying to upgrade one or more towplanes for an operation, or spending a few days a year evaluating and educating soaring operations, raising funds, and developing the actual paperwork to do the upgrades?
Brian
CFIIG