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.