And the $#@& is starting to hit the fan re "aviation adventure" rides:
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=m ... aca8af3335This is from one of my fellow biplane rides business people who watched the webcast of the meeting:
"Several ride operators have been getting surprise audits on their drug program and one guy I know of has been fined $7k over a maintenance issue. Looks like the road ahead could be a bumpy one. I’m thinking of turning in my LOA this year.
I was going to text you both a summary of this NTSB hearing that was just broadcast online regarding part 91 operators flying for compensation for hire... but there's just so much info, it was too much to text... so basically here's the summary i've come up with:
The NTSB has found a rise in fatal accidents for operators that seem to "exploit loopholes" in operational requirements... Specifically, the B-17 crash in Connecticut, the Helicopter crash into the Hudson River in NYC, some commercial hot air balloon crash in Texas, a King Air crash carrying skydivers in Hawaii and an "air combat" aerobatic experience crash operating as "flight instruction" ...
Essentially, the NTSB is recommending the FAA move toward a similar regulatory oversight as FAR Part 135 operators by creating a subsection of regulations similar to what New Zealand has recently implemented called "Adventure Aviation"...
This new FAR Part would require increased maintenance oversight, more stringent inspection protocols, establish FAA Operator Certificate requirements similar to Part 135 Charter operators, and establish requirements for operators to implement SMS (Safety Management System) and crew duty and rest limitations, both of which are standard for 135 and 121 ops...
Ironically enough, the host of the meeting opened by saying "Let me be clear, we do not want to shut these operations down or otherwise run them out of business..." which I found funny. When that B-17 went down, I knew this was coming...
Buckle up boys.... the industry is about to change..."
One thing I will add... if you don't have anything nice to say about someone, you're probably talking about an FAA drug enforcement person-
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