FAA has temporarily withdrawn the proposed Sport Pilot rule

[Larry Dighera]

Is FAA already a Profit Based Organization?


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AOPA ePilot Volume 6, Issue 13 March 26, 2004
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SPORT PILOT RULE UNEXPECTEDLY RETURNS TO FAA
The FAA has temporarily withdrawn the proposed Sport Pilot rule from
consideration by the federal Office of Management and Budget. Just
before a 90-day review period expired, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey
ordered the proposal withdrawn so that the agency could answer
questions about its economic costs and benefits. The questions were
raised during the OMB review, essentially the final step in the
approval process for the new Sport Pilot certificate and accompanying
Light-Sport Aircraft category. AOPA has supported the Sport Pilot rule
in large part because of the proposal's recognition that a driver's
license is adequate evidence of medical fitness to fly. For more
information on the proposal, see AOPA's regulatory brief (
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/regulatory/regsport.html ).

[Otis Winslow]

Follow the $$$. Someone stands to lose if this goes thru.


"Larry Dighera" > wrote in message
...
>
> Is FAA already a Profit Based Organization?
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------
> AOPA ePilot Volume 6, Issue 13 March 26, 2004
> -------------------------------------------------------------
>
> SPORT PILOT RULE UNEXPECTEDLY RETURNS TO FAA
> The FAA has temporarily withdrawn the proposed Sport Pilot rule from
> consideration by the federal Office of Management and Budget. Just
> before a 90-day review period expired, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey
> ordered the proposal withdrawn so that the agency could answer
> questions about its economic costs and benefits. The questions were
> raised during the OMB review, essentially the final step in the
> approval process for the new Sport Pilot certificate and accompanying
> Light-Sport Aircraft category. AOPA has supported the Sport Pilot rule
> in large part because of the proposal's recognition that a driver's
> license is adequate evidence of medical fitness to fly. For more
> information on the proposal, see AOPA's regulatory brief (
> http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/regulatory/regsport.html ).
>

[C J Campbell]

EAA had a more complete explanation:

FAA TEMPORARILY RETRACTS SPORT PILOT PROPOSAL
Action Allows FAA to Answer OMB Questions


March 25, 2004 - FAA Administrator Marion Blakey ordered an
administrative move on Wednesday, March 24, that keeps the sport
pilot/light-sport aircraft rule on track for final approval this spring. She
withdrew the proposal from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to
answer several final questions about the rulemaking package.
That maneuver saves the rule from facing a potential significant delay
in its approval. By bringing the proposal back to FAA, Blakey can address
OMB's questions in the most expeditious manner and return it quickly for
final approval.

March 24 marked the end of OMB's 90-day review period. Had FAA not
retracted the rule, OMB could have rejected it, severely delaying issuance
of a final rule.

While expressing disappointment in the 11th-hour development, EAA
President Tom Poberezny commended FAA's decision and acknowledged it as the
best way for the agency to address OMB's questions and secure a final rule
as quickly as possible.

"This is a temporary timing setback," he said. "EAA continues to
champion and support the sport pilot/light-sport aircraft rule, as evidenced
by the considerable resources we've dedicated to developing programs and
services for our members, including the introduction this week of EAA Sport
Pilot & Light-Sport Aircraft magazine." Poberezny also noted an upcoming
announcement regarding a major sport pilot and instructor training program.

FAA officials confirmed to EAA that answering OMB's questions about
the proposed rule is a top priority.