The other relevant arguement is that we are "wearing them out taking
them apart every year"
There are only so many times you can remove and replace screws into wood
and thin metal before some strip.


Mike

Montblack wrote:
From today's AvWeb:
http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/602-full.html#191860
EAA Proposes New Vintage Category

"Earl Lawrence, EAA's vice president of industry and regulatory affairs,
says too much time and money is spent trying to comply with regulations
that do nothing to improve the safety of aging aircraft, and in fact,
the current rules have become an impediment to safety. "We need a
different system," he told AVweb on Saturday. EAA and the Vintage
Aircraft Association have asked the FAA to create a new category for
vintage aircraft, Lawrence said. "Aircraft flown by private owners in
low-stress, personal flying need to be able to modernize. We need to
make it easier for owners to maintain their aircraft and keep them safe
while cutting down on paperwork." The FAA liked the proposal, he said.
It would make their work easier, and enable them to use their limited
resources more efficiently. But that doesn't mean change will happen
overnight. A 10- to 12-year time frame would not surprise anyone,
Lawrence said."

Offering Owners Of Old Airplanes A Choice

"In their proposal for a new vintage category, EAA and the VAA said that
such aircraft would not be limited in size or complexity; Part 43
airworthiness regulations would still apply; the installation of parts
and items that are not PMA- or TSO-compliant would be allowed; and
aircraft in the new category would lose any privileges to carry persons
or property for hire. The owner would have the option to transfer to the
new category or not. No specific age limits were proposed."


[Me again]
It would be nice if at some point (30 years?) the plane would be
considered a homebuilt - it's yours, do what you want with it!

"30 years of oversight, our job is done. Now it's up to the pilot/owner"
- FAA.

Yeah, that'll happen ...in about 30 years! :-)


Montblack