ANN E-I-C Note: Jon Thornburgh is
an aviation expert with a unqiue perspective on a number of facets
of aviation. Missing too long from ANN, we're pleased to share with
you some of his recent comments on the FAA's poorly-received
'Air-Tour' NPRM.
"Today there are 200,000 less pilots in the United States than
there were 30 years ago! The reasons are varied, including more
expensive aircraft, more expensive insurance, fewer airports, a
poor economy, terrorism restrictions, and more complicated
airspace. But the single most important factor discouraging
people from becoming pilots is the FAA. The recently proposed "Air
Tour" NPRM is a perfect example of the multitude of regulations
piled on top of regulations which has discouraged all but the