The frustrating economics of aviation

tscottme wrote:

The adviocates of Rec Pilot thought it would produce a flood of new
students.

They would have been right if the proposal had passed as originally written. The
original proposal removed the requirement for a medical certificate. The Department
of Transportation added that requirement in the last revision. If the final version
of the Sport Pilot rule contains a requirement for a medical certificate, few people
will bother with that one either.

George Patterson
In Idaho, tossing a rattlesnake into a crowded room is felony assault.
In Tennessee, it's evangelism.

"G.R. Patterson III" wrote
tscottme wrote:
The adviocates of Rec Pilot thought it would produce a flood of new
students.

They would have been right if the proposal had passed as originally written.

I doubt it. It would have allowed some old guys to keep flying a
while longer, and that's about it. Getting a medical is a non-issue
for 99% of those under 45. That's not exactly the future of aviation.

If the final version
of the Sport Pilot rule contains a requirement for a medical certificate, few people
will bother with that one either.

Nonsense. The real issue that keeps sport aviation small is not the
medical requirement - it's the cost of the airplane. The sport pilot
certificate itself is pretty meaningle - but a category of aircraft
that you don't have to build yourself that don't have to be FAA
certified is going to be very important.

Michael