Sat, Mar 25, 2006
Calls For More Maintenance Data To Be Made Available
At the FAA's conference on aircraft aging held this week in
Kansas City, MO, representatives with the Aircraft Owners and
Pilots Association met with the FAA and general aviation industry
representatives from around the world to discuss ways to keep GA
safe and affordable. The FAA's Small Airplane Directorate hosted
the public meetings.
"The average GA aircraft is 35 years old, according to the FAA.
But GA aircraft, regardless of age, are safe. Take, for example,
the popular Cessna 172 (below). It recently celebrated its 50th
anniversary and is still safely flying," said Luis Gutierrez, AOPA
director of regulatory and certification policy. "AOPA is working
to make sure that maintenance practices continue to be aimed at
meeting our current high standard of safety."
AOPA believes that the best way to increase GA safety and
improve the maintenance of older aircraft is to educate pilots and
aircraft owners. Imposing additional costly regulations is not the
answer.
During the meetings, Gutierrez presented statistics that show
the rate of accidents due to mechanical causes has remained stable
over the past 20 years. And participants discussed developing an
industry-wide effort to address maintenance and airworthiness
issues.
"Right now, there is a general consensus that more maintenance
data needs to be made available to aircraft owners and A&Ps to
ensure that aircraft are properly maintained," Gutierrez said.
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