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Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 10:17:46 -0400
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Subject: Write-in campaign in support of EPIC
Thread-Topic: lml Digest #1358
Thread-Index: AcW+k03qw7UD4yIkSVyW345HACq1NwAIM4GQ
From: "Halle, John" <JJHALLE@stoel.com>

Steve/Claudette Colwell wrote:

"When an approved "Amateur Experimental Homebuilt" with 6 or 7 aboard =
goes
in....the media will be ON "Experimental" aircraft demanding the Feds =
"do
something".  THAT would probably end up restricting Experimental =
Aircraft.
That WILL affect all of us and it will be too late to dial our =
Congressman."

I absolutely agree.  It is one thing for the AOPA to start a write-in =
campaign in support of a well staffed, well funded and well considered =
political initiative.  When amateurs do it, the result can be a long way =
from what they had in mind.  EPIC has nothing to lose at this point but =
the rest of us definitely do.  At the risk of making a heretical =
statement, it seems to me that the FAA has shown remarkable restraint =
and uncharacteristic common sense in enforcing the 51% rule (which, if =
you bother to read the actual documents that we have been discussing, is =
all this issue is about.)  If we make a public issue of this, the most =
likely result is that the FAA will be accused of laxity in the =
enforcement of its rules and the relatively benign atmosphere that we =
and our aircraft have benefited from in the past will be gone forever.  =
How many of you want to keep a "timecard" record or otherwise be =
required to sustain the burden of proof that no one worked on your =
airplane when you weren't there?  The FAA does not want to go there =
either but will surely do so if the only other alternative is to turn a =
blind eye to the blatant flaunting of the rule and the establishment of =
companies that design build and sell uncertified airplanes simply by =
claiming that an amateur had something to do with the construction =
process. =20