>"According to NTSB, amateur-built airplanes fly less than two percent
>of the hours yet have ten percent of the accidents. Further,
>amateur-built airplanes involved in accidents are destroyed 54
>percent more often than manufactured aircraft and their pilots are
>killed 88 percent more often"...
>
>Assuming the facts are as stated, why do you suppose
>it is so??
>
I am suspicious of this pronouncement . . . at OSH two
years ago, acting administrator Valentine stood on the
stage at the "Meet the Administrator Meeting" Sunday
morning and spoke as follows:
"Amateur built accident rates are on a par with certified
aircraft. Keep up the good work and we'll stay out of your
hair."
I recall viewing this as both a compliment and a threat.
We could be proud of our accident record but be on notice
that there are folk within the FAA that would dearly love
to expand their "helpfulness" into the amateur built world.
Given that I personally witness that statement and given
its source, I would REALLY like to see the NTSB pronouncement
over somebody's signature . . . it wouldn't hurt to have
access to the source of thier data as well . . . were the
numbers truly as bad as the quoted paragraph suggest,
I'd think we'd be building our airplanes to a newly minted
FAR governing consumer grade aviation . . .
Bob . . .
////
(o o)
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