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Uber for Planes Amendment in FAA Bill
Contained in the FAA reauthorization bill currently speeding its way through Congress is a little noticed provision that would change the charter game completely. The new provision would effectively allow private pilots to post ride share notices online, which would in theory open up the market to companies wanting to enlist pilots in a money making endeavor. FAA reauthorization is expected to zip through both chambers as early as next week. (www.planeandpilotmag.com) More...
Regarding rideshare entering the GA world - we need better utilization of the GA facilities private pilots rely on. Local governments are questioning why they should spend money (even with Federal match) for the maintenance of their airports when the value to the community is hard to quantify. Residents don't like the noise. And all that land looks good for redevelopment. Most people have no connection to the sleepy airport they occasionally notice out their car windows. I think rideshare ideas could integrate our GA airports into our communities again and give people a reason to not mind the noise and the tax dollars it takes to keep them open.
These reauthorization bills are so huge, it's easy for me to see why a few bad ideas can easily slip past a sane legislator without a competent or adequate staff to comprehend or notice the consequences. I was particulaly interested in the resolution that eventually became Public Law 112-95, so I learned about that through experience. What's disheartening is how elected officials from appropriations committee heads to junior members sometimes don't even bother to understand what a constituent is writing, if that constituent doesn't have special influence potential (usually translated as Uber-rich dollars). In my particular example Congress members returned responses to my letters that indicated clearly to me that their staffers hadn't even bothered or cared to read what I sent them, past the subject lines.
Those who love the law or sausage should not watch either being made.
I've long known this aphorism, but have seen it in a new light...and, now, I can liken our "Representatives" in Congress to that 10 yards that generates solid waste, inter alia. And all of those laws, unread (undigested) but voted on by most of our highly-paid log makers, are passed, flowing downhill to the rest of us. This will truly enrich my writings on governance!
RFLMAO You made my day.
