Frustration
Umpty-ump years ago, several men pooled resources and set out to revive the Helio Courier aircraft. No naive, starry-eyed business neophytes, these folks had vast experience in aircraft sales, finance, insurance, and other fields.
They got one airplane built, and even had it sold. They desperately needed certification so they could deliver said aircraft and collect the money. An FAA test pilot flew the airplane and said they had to make only one little fix before he could approve certification. They leaped to the airplane with tools in hand, but the test pilot headed for his car. He had to leave, said he, because it would be the end of his working day when he got home. No problem, though—they could set up another appointment to have him return at some future date.
I thought about that last week when the FAA certificated the LSA amphibian of LSA Aero. On that very same day they gave company president Don Langford a bit of bad news that would make the airplane virtually unsellable.
The feds, you see, years ago decided that there could indeed be an LSA amphibian. Then they decided that the landing gear on the amphib could not—it’s hard to believe this—be operated in flight. In other words, you cannot take off on land then land on water, or vice-versa. Uh, excuse me, but why would they allow an LSA amphib then rule that it couldn’t be used as an amphib?
Don—a FedEx captain with an engineering degree, tens of thousands of hours, and all of the experience and ratings imaginable—and others worked like hell to find a way to work around this unbelievable rule. At one time the feds said that operating the gear would be okay for private pilots or better, but not for basic LSA pilots. Then, a month ago, one (friendly and cooperative) fed office said they had talked with OK City and it would not be necessary to have a placard, because it was a pilot issue rather than an aircraft issue.
Last week, OK City calmly said they had changed their minds. In fact, they decided that no pilot—including Don, with his ATP and worldwide experience—could operate the gear in flight—period.
Oddly, and illogically, at least one LSA amphib already has an exemption that allows the gear to be operated in flight. As far as I know, none of those aircraft has been sold in the states. Don has an airplane ready to sell, but he can’t get the exemption. How in the world is he going to market his amphib?
Do the feds ever consider how their blithe decisions affect business people?
We’d love to post your comments. Please click the comment box at the top.
Mr. Hitzel–
Thanks for writing. I THINK I agree with you, but that last sentence got a little hard to follow.
Thanks,
Ralph Hood
Me. Lotzer–
And it isn’t just in aviation. It’s everywhere~
As ole Will Shakespeare said of some dire news, “‘Tis true, ’tis pity, and pity ’tis, ’tis true.”
Thanks for your comments.
Ralph Hood 12/18/06
AeroBlue.Org is forming a nation-wide, industry-wide politically charged organization to help bring more pressure and influence on the FAA (and local airport authorities) to be more responsive to the public.
With LSA Amphibian aircraft, clearly the FAA seems to ignore the public and pilot safety benefit of being able to land safely (i.e. in the event of an engine failure or fuel starvation while enroute.) While it appears the FAA’s concern is to avoid ‘complex’ aircraft in the LSA category, an entry point for low time pilots, inconsistency in safety, regulation and approvals is not in the public interest.
For over thirty years I have safely and conservatively run two full service FBO’s in spite of the government. To most government people I am viewed as “eccentric” (by the FAA); “uncooperative” (WISDOT);”schizophrenic” (one county); “unrealistic” (other county). General Aviation is, at the heart of government belief, both unsafe and burdensome. Government employees are more concerned about their benefits and pensions than accomplishing anything. “Guvmint” has become reactionary and obstructionary (always in the name of “safety”) to the point of penalizing the people who are trying while entitling the do-gooders*. (*includes, but is not limited to illegal aliens, relatives, tail-gate mechanics, minorities, purported flying clubs, and anyone represented by a lawyer!)
While I am young enough that I still have the ability to contribute, sadly the government has stolen my enthusiasm. Both FBO’s are for for sale. Anyone wishing to do daily battle with the “guvmint” please call. Sincerely, John Lotzer (former aviation enthusiast)
Ms. Seymour–
Not that I remember. I got another such story today. Company in Alabama had been shipping smoked turkeys all over the country for 50 years. They had a good product, good services and good reputation. A friend sent me one of their turkeys each of the last 8 Thanksgivings. This year the company folded the doors. Said the guvmont had just made it too unpleasant to stay in business. So, another one bites the dust. Seems like a helluva way to compete on the world market.
Thanks for writing,
Ralph Hood
Has there ever been a time when the busy-ness of government - at any level - ever understood the business of business? Miriam