Changes to Section 45 regarding size and location of aircraft
registration markings. Our proposal will put them back under the wings
where they belong.
The rulemaking proposal has been issued a docket number,
FAA-2004-17210-1.
The proposal may be viewed at
http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/pdf89/271105_web.pdf .
Disgraceful behavior
On 19 April 2004, AOPA president Phil Boyer directed the FAA to
dismiss this proposal. On 20 April, 2004, John Hickey of the FAA submitted
to the wishes of AOPA. This proposal, which some at FAA told me earlier
was of interest to FAA, was crushed before any review of it was done and
before it was opened to public comment. These documents are posted on the
docket,
FAA-2004-17210-1.
As much as we at STN are disappointed at FAA's gross mishandling of this
proposal, we intend to use it as a shining example of the collusion
between FAA and the aviation lobby to subvert the will of the American
people. We want all people to see that:
The aviation community, through its mouthpiece AOPA, wants to preserve its
anonymity in our skies. They do not want to be subject to regulation.
FAA does not want to do its job of regulating general aviation. The
easiest, and most time-tested way of avoiding that responsibility is by
keeping the identity of the aircraft as secret from those on the
ground as possible. In that way no one outside the closed club of aviators can
participate in the regulation of things that fly.
That FAA is fearful of, and subordinates itself to, the wishes of the
moneyed interests represented by AOPA and similar organizations.
I attended a meeting with FAA officials at the Boston FSDO in the
spring of 2003 to review their progress, or more correctly their lack of
progress, in investigating and prosecuting pilots for clear violations of
the FAR in our area. The managers, and inspectors present conceded that
violations had occurred, but bemoaned that if only we could have read the
N-numbers off of the aircraft they would gladly move forward with
prosecutions. I asked those present why, since they all acknowledged that
inability to read N-Numbers from the ground was all that was stopping them
from prosecuting local pilots for violations of the FAR, did they not push within FAA for the N-Numbers to be large and under the wings where
they would enable enforcement actions. One of the inspectors present,
without hesitation, blurted out "AOPA would never
let us do that." What more can be said?
FAA clearly hasn't entered the age of Total Quality Management or
Continuous Process Improvement. Or perhaps its might be that FAA
personnel see their customers as some group other than the American
people.
STN will resubmit this proposal. In preparation for this, we ask
that you all contact your federal representatives and let them know of
your outrage at the disgraceful behavior of Mr. John J. Hickey, Director
Aircraft Certification Services.
Find your Senators here.
Find your Congressman here.
STOP
THE
NOISE
