psm(at)att.net
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 Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:09 pm Post subject: Report number 1 from Sun n Fun - FAA "Response" to NTSB |
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I talked to several FAA folks at Sun n Fun today about the situation
with the NTSB and Zodiac XL. Here are my reactions and impressions.
First, it doesn't sound like they are going to do anything soon such
as grounding the fleet as requested by the NTSB. They are taking the
NTSB report very seriously and starting a project to collect
information and make decisions about the situation. The first report
(not to be made public I presume) is due to be completed some time in
July. They are talking to the Heintz clan and might be able to have
some influence there (optimistic, but possible).
The FAA doesn't seem interested in doing anything about kit or
scratch built planes. They are much more concerned with factory S-LSA planes.
The general idea I got was that if they decide to force some sort of
action on the S-LSA owners it will start with an NPRM and the rule
process will likely take at least a year. After that they might
force XL owners to do something like the aileron balance change of
grounding the planes. My guess is this will not be the most
interesting process in this whole mess. I think other actions by
other people will be much more interesting - more critical time paths.
Please remember these are just comments from informal chats with
government employees. I am not, and cannot, commit anybody to
anything. I just wanted to pass around the latest gossip.
Paul
XL grounded
P.S. note for Sabrina - I suggested the guy in charge of this mess at
the FAA contact you to get your impressions and possibly get you
somehow involved in the process. I told him you were probably the
most well informed person in the builder community about engineering
issues on the XL. As you might expect, he knew exactly who you are
and commented you got your airworthiness certificate on the last day
for fat ultralights. So, if you are mad about being contacted, be
mad at me rather than the nice guy from the FAA.
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