The FAA, general aviation, uncontrolled airspace
FAA rules dictate how our sky is used. The FAA gathers money from air travel taxes and fees and provides money to the industry to support and grow aviation. Thus, the aviation industry is paying the FAA to regulate it. What could go wrong?
What other industries besides aviation have entire branches of the federal government dedicated to their well being? This is called "regulatory capture". The FAA has become dominated by the industry it is supposed to regulate, rather than by public interest. As Pierce says, "Regulatory capture" is Reaganese for, "To hell with public safety. There's a buck to be made."
The most recent, obvious classic case of FAA regulatory capture in commercial aviation when it was clearly shown that the FAA acted as a virtual agent for Boeing when Boeing was rushing through the approval of the 737 Max. The result was two deadly crashes killing 346 people.
Regarding general aviation aircraft noise, the 1990 ANCA act shifted noise abatement away from local governments and airport proprieters and granted the FAA authority on all noise restrictions on aircraft.
GA occurs mainly in uncontrolled airspace. There, pilots fly without a plan or tower control, using only visual or Instrument sensed flight rules. While there is a minimum elevation requirement (1000' over the ground) and some noise abatement recommendations, pilots know they may safely ignore them. Pilots can:
While the FAA claims their primary focus is safety their primary focus is industry growth. Regarding safety, their primary concern is pilot safety, not life on the ground - if life on the ground mattered, we would have had unleaded fuel long ago, rather than waiting until 2030.
The industry is all about growth. Air traffic volume is controlled solely at the discretion of local towers (if any, and within a certain radius) and flight operators. We don't know what these people think a limiting factor for air traffic volume would be, or even whether they think there is a limiting factor.
This massive, government supported, growth-oriented, inequitable, expensive, polluting system is the GA regulatory system we have. It caters to a small, well-off percentage of the population. It is paid for by citizens at every level: Federal, State, and municipal.
What other industries besides aviation have entire branches of the federal government dedicated to their well being? This is called "regulatory capture". The FAA has become dominated by the industry it is supposed to regulate, rather than by public interest. As Pierce says, "Regulatory capture" is Reaganese for, "To hell with public safety. There's a buck to be made."
The most recent, obvious classic case of FAA regulatory capture in commercial aviation when it was clearly shown that the FAA acted as a virtual agent for Boeing when Boeing was rushing through the approval of the 737 Max. The result was two deadly crashes killing 346 people.
Regarding general aviation aircraft noise, the 1990 ANCA act shifted noise abatement away from local governments and airport proprieters and granted the FAA authority on all noise restrictions on aircraft.
GA occurs mainly in uncontrolled airspace. There, pilots fly without a plan or tower control, using only visual or Instrument sensed flight rules. While there is a minimum elevation requirement (1000' over the ground) and some noise abatement recommendations, pilots know they may safely ignore them. Pilots can:
- fly whenever, wherever, however they like,
- perform repetive maneuvers as long they like,
- use any aircraft they wish, despite age, make, model, noise level, vetting,
- make as much noise as they like,
- ignore and harass residents,
- violate altitude rules,
- fly without identifying themselves.
While the FAA claims their primary focus is safety their primary focus is industry growth. Regarding safety, their primary concern is pilot safety, not life on the ground - if life on the ground mattered, we would have had unleaded fuel long ago, rather than waiting until 2030.
The industry is all about growth. Air traffic volume is controlled solely at the discretion of local towers (if any, and within a certain radius) and flight operators. We don't know what these people think a limiting factor for air traffic volume would be, or even whether they think there is a limiting factor.
This massive, government supported, growth-oriented, inequitable, expensive, polluting system is the GA regulatory system we have. It caters to a small, well-off percentage of the population. It is paid for by citizens at every level: Federal, State, and municipal.
