ANN E-I-C Note: Jon Thornburgh is an aviation expert with a unique perspective on a number of facets of aviation. Missing too long from ANN, we're pleased to share with you some of his recent comments on the FAA's poorly-received 'Air-Tour' NPRM.

Today there are 200,000 less pilots in the United States than there were 30 years ago! The reasons are varied, including more expensive aircraft, more expensive insurance, fewer airports, a poor economy, terrorism restrictions, and more complicated airspace.  But the single most important factor discouraging people from becoming pilots is the FAA. The recently proposed "Air Tour" NPRM is a perfect example of the multitude of regulations piled on top of regulations which has discouraged all but the most determined citizens to become pilots.
 
If the Air Tour NPRM goes in effect as proposed it will be another nail in the coffin of general aviation. This is one of the most draconian proposals since 1997, when the FAA "modified" FAR Part 61 pilot training regulations.
 
Simply stated, the Air Tour NPRM would outlaw the ability of commercial pilots to give sightseeing tours, including short helicopter flights and scenic sunset tours in bi-wing Wacos.
 
All sightseeing flights would have to be conducted under FAR Part 135, which is the same regulation governing charter airlines. It takes hundreds of hours to qualify as a Part 135 pilot. Part 135 operations require reams of paperwork, a flight manual, a maintenance manual, a "Chief Pilot," a "Check Airman," and "Chief Mechanic," and frequent proficiency check flights. 
 
Everyone will be effected by this rule, including private pilots, and even ultralight pilots. Why? Because as more people are discouraged from becoming pilots, there will be less flight instructors, fewer students, fewer airplanes sold (making each one more expensive,) less insurance available (and, again, more expensive,) fewer aviation accessories sold (like radios and GPS,) and more politicians and developers who want to sub-divide "under-utilized airports."
 
This NPRM has already received a negative response from every aviation organization, including AOPA, the EAA, NAFI, the Small Business Administration, GAMA, and the National Air Transportation Association. Due to the overwhelming negative response the FAA has extended the deadline to respond from January 20, 2004 to April 19th.
 
I encourage everyone to respond to this NPRM and tell the FAA to leave the regulations as they are presently. Even a short, quick response saying that a change in the sightseeing rules is not necessary, would not enhance safety, and will harm general aviation would be extremely helpful in stopping this ill-advised proposal.
 
My response to the NPRM is available on the FAA web site at
http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/p77/264883.doc . 
 
An excellent article entitled, "Save the Sightseeing Flights," published by the Aviation Foundation of America, may be seen at http://nationalairtours.org/sight.html
 
The NPRM is published at http://66.89.54.45/NPRM.pdf (Adobe)
 
You may file your comments electronically at http://dms.dot.gov/search/searchResultsSimple.cfm?numberValue=4521&searchType=docket .
 
The FAA has published unofficial comments and discussions on the NPRM on a "Public Meeting Forum" at http://66.89.54.45/ .
 
Please send your comments to the FAA. Don't delay. Even a few short sentences would be helpful. If you so desire, you are welcome to copy any portion of my response. Remember, the deadline to comment has been extended to April 19, 2004.
 
Thank you,  
Jon Thornburgh

About Jon Thornburgh: Delta Airlines Captain Jon Thornburgh began his education at University of Southern California (Bachelor of Arts). He continued at Law-Loyola University, where he received his Juris Doctorate in 1977. His aviation career began with Navy flight training in 1968. Active and in the Reserves until 1978, Thornburgh flew F-4s from the Navy aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk, with 140 combat missions in Viet Nam and was awarded various Air Medals.
In 1977, Thornburgh was hired by Western Airlines (which was purchased by Delta in 1988). Now a Boeing 757/767 Captain, he has flown Boeing 727, 737, 757, and 767; Douglas DC-10, and Lockheed L-1011.
A glider, helicopter, and gyroplane pilot with more than 12,000 hours, Thornburgh is an Instrument and Balloon Flight Instructor and a turbojet flight engineer… and that’s not all. With ASC AFI, EAA AFI, and USUA BFI certificates, he is an active Ultralight instructor with his own Ultralight fleet: An FAA-certified Quicksilver GT-500, a Quicksilver single-seat Sport, a Keuthan Buccaneer amphibious seaplane, and an Air Creation trike.

FMI: http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/p77/264883.doc