We don't normally talk about general aviation politics from the USA; there is so much going on over there constantly and so often the cascading impact is only a trickle by the time it reaches Australia. However, something happened during the week that stands to change GA in Australia for the better ... maybe. A bi-partisan bill was sent to the senate floor that will pave the way for the FAA to make new aircraft certification cheaper and easier. Right now, certifying a new design can cost a manufacturer up to US$100 million, and the only way to recoup that is to bolster the selling price. You now have an explanation why Cessna and Piper have stuck to their old designs for so long: they don't need to shell out a motza for new development when they can keep updating the old aeroplanes. This new bill will also make it easier to adopt new technologies by re-writing FAR23 to make it less prescriptive and more flexible. It's something we desperately need for the aviation industry to be genuinely cutting-edge and more economically viable.
Red Bull Air Race is back and with the retirement of 2015 champion Paul Bonhomme, our boy Matt Hall is now ranked Number One in the world. That doesn't necessarily make him favourite for the championship; there are several pilots out there capable of chasing him down at every event. Complacency is now Hall's Messerschmidt, but you have to remember he's a combination of fighter pilot and analytical soul, making him a very cool and skillful customer that will be very hard to shoot down. Round One of the 2016 series is in Abu Dhabi this weekend. You can watch qualifying on-line at 2300 tonight eastern time with race day tomorrow from 2100 for the Round of 14 and 2300 for the race on www.redbullairrace.com.
Dick Smith has taken the most extraordinary step of encouraging people to leave general aviation for the good of the industry. Confused? Let me explain: Dick believes that the current state of the industry is not recoverable and many operators and owners will end-up sinking a lot of money into general aviation for zero return. His contention is that the government won't do anything about it until a crisis is reached, and therefore we should bring that crisis on in order to force the government to do something. Personally, I don't agree with Dick. Although I can see what he's getting at, I don't trust the government to do anything even after a crisis occurs. Successive governments have shown complete apathy towards general aviation, and there's nothing to give me confidence they would suddenly wake up and get enthusiastic no matter what happens. Many times in the past I have quoted legendary US flying instructor John King, and now seems an appropriate time for me to do it again. John stood on a stage in Melbourne years ago and told the audience "you can't wait for the goverment to fix things ... that's not what governments do." Can I also quote another Mr Smith? In the classic Frank Capra movie Mr Smith goes to Washington, Jeff Smith (Jimmy Stewart) says something like "lost causes are the only ones worth fighting for." If, as Dick Smith says, general aviation is a lost cause, I believe that's only more reason to keep fighting for it.
Ditto for Jabiru. They've lashed out at the ATSB over the report into engine failures released this week. Their main contention is that the ATSB has not done much investigation of the data, simply drawn conclusions from the statistics alone. For me, the most bewildering question concerns the weight parameter chosen: a maximum MTOW of 800 kg. Why that limit? It marks no form of regulatory break-point. Are they trying to tell us that there are VH-registered aircraft using Jabiru engines that have an MTOW of 800 kg, and therefore needed to be included? If so, say so. And then the earthquake: why has the ATSB made recommendations to the manufacturer and CASA when, if Sue Woods is right, they haven't investigated any of the incidents involving Jabiru engine failures? That responsibility lies with Recreational Aviation Australia, and I don't remember them crying for Jabiru engines to be restricted in operations.
I'm off to the Tyabb Air Show on Sunday refresh my wings and leave behind the politics and cracked rhetoric for a day. This is one of Australia's truly great aviation events and always gets a good crowd. If you're at a loose end and looking for a reason to play aeries, set the DG for a course to Tyabb and just watch the action. Check it out on the air show website.
May your gauges always be in the green,
Hitch