What economic hardships are occurring?
Late this morning, I talked with FAA Administrator Jane Garvey prior to her meeting with the National Security Council. Included on the agenda were airspace issues and VFR flights. It was a productive conversation, as Administrator Garvey concurred with EAA’s position that the continued grounding of VFR flight has caused tremendous economic ramifications within the GA community. She agreed that America’s aviation infrastructure is fragile and that suspension of any part creates enormous difficulties, as demonstrated by the airlines. This information was timely in advance of her NSC meeting. A balance must be maintained between national security issues and economic hardships. Along with communications received by EAA and NAFI, we are surveying GA and ultralight flight instructors, kit and accessory manufacturers, Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) and other business to gauge the depth of the economic difficulties. Such economic impact examples were among statements rushed to FAA Headquarters t
