Looking Forward To The 'World's Greatest Aviation Celebration'

By John Ylinen

While getting ready to go to AirVenture 2015, I began to wonder what I will see ... and think about what I hoped to see this year.

What I Wish I Would See:

- The Campgrounds sold out. Many new first time attendees, the most ever. Total excitement about the wonder of flight.
- No aviation accidents the whole time for aircraft coming and going. Especially at the air show.
- The FAA announce they are going to make growing general aviation and number of GA pilots as important in their mission as safety. A policy of fair balance in regulations with growth and cost of GA.
- A full throated protest by AOPA and EAA against the FAA for a year without the Third Class Medical regulation being released for NPRM comments with a call for the Administrator to be impeached.
- Every manufacturer announcing a new model of aircraft. Not a new paint scheme or interior, but a whole new type model.
- Real available Diesel engines for light aircraft.
- FAA redefine LSA to be any 4 seat or less single engine piston aircraft of 200 HP or less and allow Sport - Pilots to operate them. Part 23 repealed for all Single Engine Piston aircraft. No weight or speed limit on LSAs.
- FAA announcing they are getting out of the business of certifying LSA and Part 23 aircraft, avionics, and power plants.
- Announcements by several fuel manufacturers that they have a 100UL fuel and it is available now and does not require any changes to aircraft systems, and the price is no more than automobile fuel.

What I expect to see
- Icon finally showing one customer aircraft. Only took them 11 years.
- Engine Manufacturers with no certified available diesel engines.
- Some already seen Concept aircraft still being developed. Kestrel, Pipistrel, Flight Design and others.
- No new kit built aircraft models shipping. Maybe VANs will finally be shipping a full RV-14 kit.
- Focus on ADS-B OUT and lower priced A/B equipment.
- FAA Administrator at his “Meet the Administrator” session will make excuses for why the Third Class Medical rule was not out in September 2014 like he indicated it would be. He will announce that it will be out RSN. Jack Pelton will be his normal gentleman and will monopolize the session with his own Q/A and harangue. There will only be 10 minutes for questions.

It will still be fun to catch up with friends not seen in a year. But the death spiral of light general aviation is continuing and little has been done to change that course.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.eaa.org/airventure