Randy Babbitt, administrator for the FAA, will be the featured guest speaker at the regular bi–monthly meeting of the Atlanta Aero Club scheduled for May 5.
Babbitt, a veteran pilot who flew 25 years for Eastern Airlines, is an internationally recognized expert in aviation and labor relations. Most recently he was a partner with Oliver Wyman, an international management firm, and became the 16th administrator in June 2009.
Since 2001 he also served as a member of the FAA’s Management Advisory Council and provided guidance to the FAA Administrator on a variety of topics ranging from air traffic modernization to regulatory policy. He served as Chairman of the Council from 2004 to 2006.
In addition, Babbitt was appointed by DOT Secretary Mary Peters to be a member of a special Internal Review Team to assess safety oversight within the airline industry and the FAA.
Babbitt served as President and CEO for the US Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and championed the “One Level Safety” initiative implemented in 1995 to improve safety standards across the airline industry.
The meeting is scheduled for Noon on May 5 in the Grand Ballroom of the Capital City Club, 7 Harris St., downtown Atlanta. The cost is $40 for members and $50 for non-members and includes lunch. A networking hour begins at 11 am with check in at 11:30 am. Reservations can be made online or by calling 800-878-7555.
The Atlanta Aero Club was founded in 1984 by Lockheed Aircraft Co. executives and is one of the oldest continuous operating aviation clubs in the US. With nearly 250 members, the Atlanta Aero Club has operated as a chapter of the National Aeronautics Association (NAA) since its inception. Recently, the Atlanta Aero Club took a leadership position, along with the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA), in developing a Georgia State Proclamation declaring October as the official Aviation Appreciation Month to honor the businesses and individuals who contribute to the state’s and nation’s large aviation industry. For more information: AtlantaAeroclub.org
I wouldn’t go see Mr. Babbitt if you PAID me $50. He is a politician through and through and NO friend to the pilot community. Just look at is offical remarks following the mistake of a pilot, or controller, for that matter. His first remarks are to crucify the person, even without hearing the person’s explanation. He takes the misinformed media’s explanation as the gospel and pronounces to the world that the violator should be severely punished. This is just to make himself look good, at the expense of anyone who makes a mistake. Case in point, he revoked every rating the Northwest Pilots held, who flew NORDO for 90 minutes until reaching Minneappolis, including their private pilot licenses before the two pilots told their side of the story to the NTSB! Guilty untill proven innocent, that’s Mr. Babbitt’s motto.
The January 7, 2011 General Aviation News contained ‘Predictions for 2011’ by Ben Sclair, GAN Publisher. One prediction was entitled “Bye Bye Third Class Medical.”
This prediction outlined an informal telephone interview late in 2010 with FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt in which the Administrator stated he would push the FAA and Congress to eliminate the requirement for a third class medical for anyone operating an aircraft (irregardless of weight) as a private pilot, non-commercial, not for hire. This essentially supports and expands the (weight limit) petition by David Wartosky, owner of Potomac Airfield in Maryland, to do away with the third class medical for non-commercial pilots of aircraft weighing 6,000 pounds or lighter.
I hope that each and every person who comes in contact with Administrator Babbitt at this forum and any oher anywhere challenges him to do what he says. The single greatest thing that he could do to save General Aviation in America is to do away with the third class medical which serves no great purpose. The GA safety rate is good to begin with and getting better (likely because flying hours are going down), only 1% of accidents have medical related causes and only 0.025% are cardiac related. Give me a break! At what point does the FAA finally realize that there is a point of diminishing return on investment toward the end goal of safety for recreational fliers? If I can drive a car to my hangar I ought to be able to fly my Cessna 172 … period. I will NOT buy an overpriced LSA just to keep flying but I will keep maintaining my friend of nearly 30 years to do same. For gosh sakes, airline pilots are dying of cardiac arrest occasionally. Even their more extensive physicals don’t preclude this. “Stuff” happens and that’s just the way it is.
Mr. Babbitt … PLEASE … you’re a pilot yourself … and you’re getting older. 27% of existing pilots are over 50. If you remove this single MAJOR obstacle to keep existing pilots flying longer, you will have done aviation the greatest favor ever. Won’t you please make this a priority of your Administration?
GA is being killed one razor blade cut at a time by well-intentioned but no less onerous political, bureaucratic and economic forces coming at us from every direction. It’s already on life support and heading downhill fast. The total number of active pilots in the US is down by nearly 30% from it’s high point. Without a major paradigm shift, GA will disappear as we know it in less than 20 years. At that point, we won’t need an FAA.
Randy … give us some help. I’m down to begging. I’ll work with you for free to help you find a way. Safety is paramount but the FAA’s second job is promoting aviation and growing pilots. Let’s not forget that.
Thanks.
LARRY STENCEL
Palm Coast, FL
Larry. Please know that my column was very tongue in cheek. There is a disclaimer at the top of the column stating all quotes were made up by me. That said, I stand behind the “predictions” as a great way forward for General Aviation.