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ACRO E-mail Archive Thread: [Acro] IAC rules amok, it's a safety thing! [International Aerobatic Club] [Communications] [Aerobatics Images] Disclaimer: These aerobatics pages are developed by individual IAC members and do not represent official IAC policy or opinion. |
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Thread: [Acro] IAC rules amok, it's a safety thing!
Message: [Acro] IAC rules amok, it's a safety thing!
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From: Gmirk at aol.com
Date: Sun, 10 Mar 2002 17:23:08 UTC
Hi all, I have two issues: 1. This seems to be a safety issue and not a category issue. 2. Virginia's characterization of pilots as honest, safety minded rule followers that value proper training. Although it would be nice to believe that this is how pilots are, and I would agree that in many cases Virginia is correct, experience proves otherwise. After years of g/a and commercial flying (that's many many hours of dual given in addition to the airlines) my opinion is that pilots are not that different from the population as a whole. Most people, when involved in a structured activity, do follow the rules and generally act in a way that they believe is acceptable to the group, but these are not the people that we are concerned with. The United States is one of the least regulated when it comes to general aviation. Pilots will generally fall into one of three categories: those that go beyond the established minimums, those that adhere to the bare minimums, and those that fall far below the minimums. It is obviously the folks in the latter of the two categories that we must be concerned with, and yes that is where local policing comes into play. Many the aircraft renter can't understand why his local FBO requires him to fly more often than FAR 91 requires. Yes, it's an insurance thing, but do you want a guy flying who has only done 3 t/o and landings every 90 days for the last year and a half? OK, so what we are talking about is a safety thing, well that's not all that hard, is it? Set up a training standard, create a way to maintain currency, and find a reasonable way to grandfather in those with the requisite credentials. Isn't that how it works for the IAC judges? I know this is how it works at any airline, and for every pilot certificate out there. Oh yes, it will be more restrictive than the current regs, and it will cost some money! The above is not a panacea and accidents will not stop. In fact there would be no real way to gauge the efficacy of such a measure in the short term, and there is the rub when it comes to aviation safety. When aviation safely works, nothing happens, and in an inherently safe activity that is a hard sell. Most assuredly there will be folks who complain that they have been screwed by the new rules, and some may very well have a legitimate complaint; well nothing is perfect so suck it up and get with the program. Remember the old joke, "what whines louder than the airplane engine? The pilots." As far as the basic/primary debate is concerned, only time will tell, and these things can change so give it a chance. Just remember to keep your eyes on the prize, and to me that is to keep the sport safe. Wouldn't it be nice if the only memorial contest, or award, was held for someone who died of old age after a long enjoyable aerobatic career? That's all, I'm off to commit some acts of aviation. Cheers, Greg Mirkin S1-T, N230JM