by Dave Weiman
We are pleased that on March 2, 2016, the FAA proposed a rulemaking directed by the Small Airplane Revitalization Act of 2013, which would replace today’s highly prescriptive design requirements with performance- and risk-based standards for aircraft certification under Part 23. This would be a shift to standards that maintain safety, while making it easier and more affordable to bring innovative technology into general aviation aircraft.
While the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) focuses on design and certification of new aircraft, changes are still needed to make it easier and more affordable for the owners of legacy aircraft to put modern safety equipment in their airplanes, but the NPRM is a step in the right direction. So hopefully someday soon, the owners of certified aircraft will be able to enjoy the benefits of more technologically advanced equipment which the owners of experimental aircraft have been enjoying for years, and at a fraction of the cost they have been paying for equipment certified under current standards.
As AOPA President & CEO Mark Baker said, “One size does not fit all when it comes to aircraft equipment. With the GA fleet aging and just over 1,000 new piston-powered GA aircraft delivered each year, we must make it easier to upgrade legacy aircraft with a wide range of innovative safety technology.”
As soon as the NPRM is released, it will be imperative that you respond quickly with meaningful comments in support of the proposed rule, so the Obama Administration can issue a final rule.
Watch for special announcements in the “News Briefs” section on the homepage at www.MidwestFlyer.com, and from AOPA.
