CAA: GA News, "FAA holds off on new rules for older aircraft"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@cwnet.com>]

Friday, February 4, 2000

FAA holds off on new rules for older aircraft
GA News


KANSAS CITY, Missouri — General aviation representatives approached the FAA’
s recent two-day public meeting here on “aging aircraft” with trepidation
but left with a feeling of relief.

They also pledged to monitor the agency and remain alert for any signs that
older aircraft will be facing new and more restrictive rules.

FAA spokesman Mike Gallagher said the purpose of the meeting was “to address
the problems associated with an aging general aviation fleet.”

The information is food for thought. The average airplane in the general
aviation fleet is 34 years old. In 10 years the average age is expected to
increase to 41 years, and by 2019 the average GA airplane will be 50 years
old.

Many of the companies that manufactured today’s “aging aircraft” are no
longer in business or have severely curtailed operations. The FAA is
concerned about how these “orphaned” aircraft will be maintained, and it’s
also worried about parts availability.

A representative of Transport Canada, the Canadian equivalent of the U.S.
Department of Transportation, said his country is implementing rules for a
new category of owner-maintained aircraft. It’s a concept that makes the
Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and the Antique Airplane Association
(AAA) uncomfortable.

Brent Taylor, AAA’s executive director, said a new category could lead to
higher insurance premiums, lower aircraft values and more accidents.

EAA’s Earl Lawrence suggested that owners should have the option of
decertifying their aircraft from the standard category instead of forcing
older aircraft into a new category.

Dennis Roberts, speaking for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association,
said most aging aircraft are safe, and the meeting in Kansas City should not
“result in a solution looking for a problem.” He added there is no data that
shows older aircraft are at greater risk for mechanically related accidents.

Asked if the meeting was a prelude for new rules on aging aircraft,
Gallagher said it’s not. “There are no pending regulations,” he said, adding
that such action would be his responsibility.

Discussion during the meeting generated several suggestions that the FAA
says it will consider as it continues to study the subject.

For example, in addition to creating a new category for older aircraft,
other possibilities include expanding designee authority to include
designated airworthiness representatives (DARs) for antique aircraft and
reducing liability if they were given more responsibility.

A database would be provided for field approvals, including an FAA Web site
with supplemental type certificates and other pertinent information for
those who might want to perform the same modifications.

Taylor, of the Antique Airplane Association, said that even though the
meeting did not result in immediate new rules, regulations or changes of
category, the aging aircraft issue is one that should be closely monitored
by the GA community.

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