Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kansas, has introduced the Light Aircraft Revitalization Act (LARA), which would cut regulations on the general aviation industry.
He said in a prepared release that he hopes the bill will “improve safety, decrease costs, and free private-sector innovation.”
The bill is cosponsored by Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., Sam Graves, R-Mo., Todd Rokita, R-Ind., and Rick Nolan, D-Minn.
The bill addresses a number of challenges facing the general aviation industry caused by outdated regulation, including the steady decline in new pilots, flight activity, and the sales of new small general aviation airplanes. For example, the average general aviation airplane is 40 years old.
Over the last 18 months, the FAA Part 23 Reorganization Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC), composed of aviation authorities and industry representatives from around the world, has worked to create a regulatory environment that will contribute to revitalizing the health and safety of new and existing light airplanes. LARA requires the implementation of the Part 23 ARC recommendations by the end of 2015.
“General aviation has never asked for a bailout, but we can cut red tape and at the same time improve safety, effectively revitalizing the industry by cutting the cost of new planes,” said Pompeo. “The existing outdated certification process needlessly increases the cost of safety and technology upgrades by up to 10 times. With this bill, we can ensure that the general aviation industry has what it needs to thrive.”
“Congressman Mike Pompeo has long been a champion of general aviation, and we applaud his efforts to move this process forward,” said Michael Thacker, Cessna’s senior vice president of engineering. “The active and willing participation of the FAA and other international regulatory bodies has been critical to the success of this effort so far.”
“We appreciate Congressman Pompeo’s leadership on this important legislation that spurs the FAA to adopt regulatory change to double the safety and cut certification costs in half for light general aviation airplanes,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. “We look forward to working with him and other members of Congress in moving this legislation forward.”
For more information: Pompeo.house.gov
It is almost certainly not true that there have been no cases of pilot incapacitation in the LSA/owner-built community. We had a fatal accident at our local airport involving an owner built-plane which was attributed to a cardiac arrest right after takeoff. This happened not that long ago.
This accident does not even show up in the ntsb database. How many others go unreported?
Not sure we have very good data on which to draw conclusions either way.
I’m all for what J Scott say”s about the EAA/AOPA third class medical petition.If the FAA would pass it,it would increase the Pilot population and put more planes in the skies.And it would add jobs in aviation.And it would make aviation safer.For lets face it,aircraft that was build in the 60’s ,70’s and be on,are safer that those build in the 40’s.
The best thing would be to get the FAA completely out of the 3rd class medical business.
There’s a big thread at
http://www.generalaviationnews.com/2013/05/an-open-letter-to-the-faa-administrator-how-can-we-help/
All nice things to do to help aviation, but the biggest boost would be to get the FAA off the dime with the EAA/AOPA third class medical exemption petition. There are a large number of pilots that would love to still be involved in aviation, but are barred from flying by archaic and unnecessary regulations.
Jscott, I disagree.
The EAA/AOPA proposal is a half measure. I know why they proposed what they proposed, but believe me, they know it’s a half measure.
The fact that no “pilot medical incapacitation” accidents have occurred in light sport aircraft is proof that the 3rd class medical has just no value at all.
What would help GA the most and save hundreds of millions of dollars is to get the FAA completely out of the 3rd class medical certification business. Then all those sport pilots would buy Cessnas and Bonanzas and would be able to fly any airplane.
Aircraft values would rise. Sales would increase. Flying would increase. FBOs would return to profitability.