ASC, PO Box 589, Marshall, MI 49068 phone 269-781-4021 fax 904-339-9275 email kimojim@aol.com
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ASC, PO Box 589, Marshall, MI 49068 phone 269-781-4021 fax 904-339-9275 email kimojim@aol.com
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April 2000 Aero Connections Magazine editorial by Jim Stephenson Sport Pilot Proposal Officially Given to the FAAAs mentioned in Aero Connection’s November 1999 editorial, Sport pilot has now moved to the FAA. The work of the ARAC Part 103 Working group is done. We have made our recommendation to the FAA. But, perhaps a little history is in order. The Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) Part 103 Working Group was initially formed before ASC even existed. Yet, it is noted with great pride that ASC and its members have been very involved in the development of the Sport Pilot proposal. Starting in October of 1996, when the ASC membership voted on recommendations to be sent to the ARAC and the FAA, positive support has been the hallmark of ASC efforts. Those recommendation were reflected back to the ARAC Working group in April of 1997 in the form of the FAA Ad Hoc Working Group recommendation from FAA to the ARAC. The ASC membership recommendations are contained within the final proposal as it has been submitted to the FAA. All of this while ASC was outside the Working Group. In December of 1997, ASC representation joined the working group and aided in moving the proposal along with numerical data and energy comparisons that helped frame the Sport Pilot concept. Now, ASC’s positive and proactive support has helped in these final steps in the form of economic estimates and comparison to Canadian data. And so, the final proposal on Sport Pilot has been submitted to the FAA. It is not yet done. Now we must wait and see what the FAA does with the ARAC recommendations. But, for now the work of the ARAC Part 103 Working group is done. Thank you to all who have helped the process along. Sport Pilot is what we need to bring ultralight and light aviation its next step in growth, safety and security. We hope that the FAA moves quickly and positively toward this excellent solution. Press release 9/21/99 FAA Responds and Accepts ARAC Proposal.
On September 9, 1999 the FAA responded to the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee's (ARAC) draft proposal on Sport Pilot Certification Requirements. After much deliberation, the FAA indicated they would develop the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) internally without having the draft rewritten by ARAC. The FAA responded with the following comment, "If this approach is acceptable to ARAC, the FAA would consider the previously submitted draft NPRM (draft 11 dated June 24, 1998), in combination with ARAC's written answers to FAA's questions, as ARAC's formal recommendation." The FAA submitted a list of general questions for "ARAC's consideration and response if possible." The questions submitted to ARAC, were questions concerning the clarification of economic data contained in the NPRM, and a clarification on the time period in which pilots applying for Sport Pilot Certification would be required to know sections of "Parts 61/91 and other regulations." The FAA also submitted concerns covering six provisions contained in the NPRM. However, these concerns cover policy issues not currently supported by FAA policy or "require policy decisions by the FAA", and will be handled by the FAA internally. Jim Stephenson, CEO of Aero Sports Connection stated, "We are very excited about this step forward. The acceptance of draft 11, by the FAA, means that a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Sport Pilot Certification could be released to the public in the near future." Mr. Stephenson went on to comment, "We have all been very frustrated by the slow progress of this proposal. The acceptance of draft 11 is the next important step, that may lead, to a successful conclusion."
Hyperlink to Sport Pilot details http://www.eaa.org/benefits/experimenter/sport_pilot_proposal.html |
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