As I started reading the editorial “One sky, one voice” (Sept. 23 issue), the object was to seek the one word that might be missing. Sure enough nothing was said regarding the equity of the situation being discussed.
It is all one sky. It truly is and is jointly owned by each property owner to include the sky above to an indefinite altitude. The rights to fly aircraft through these multitudes of separately owned air spaces are vested in the Federal Aviation Administration by licenses appropriate to the aircraft and whatever other means of control of that aircraft might be required. So, as much as we like to believe there is only one sky, we appear to have more sky than practical to count.
About 33.7% of my 86 years has been as an airplane pilot. More than 39 of these years were as builder/owner/operator of 92D, now known as Harlan Airfield. After a stroke in 1992, and the sale of 92D in 1994, my airport work has continued as a hobby, to share all previous experiences through the POPU movement.
That has been another continued, but dormant, story. GAN needs more reporting on how Public Law No. 104-264, which is currently being questioned in Congress, by a representative from Kansas, plus the Cessna, Raytheon and Bombardier Aircraft companies, is developing. I doubt if GAN could print anything more important because 104-264 actually, in FAA’s own words, “strips them” of the obligation to promote civil aviation. The House Subcommittee on Aviation did not answer my complaint regarding who promotional obligations were transferred to from FAA, but the counsel did email me that it remains with Congress.
Doug Nichols
Lagrange, Ohio