Pasted below is the emails I've sent and received from Rich Hansen, District 10 VP.

-----Original Message-----
From: Cronkhite, Douglas M. [mailto[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2003 6:25 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Turbine Operating Rules


Hi Rich,

There is a great deal of rumor floating about concerning the adoption of new turbine operating rules by the EC. In addition to these rumors are those that state Dave Brown is trying to overturn those newly adopted rules which were worked out and presented to the EC by the Jet Pilots Organization (JPO).

Can you clarify what's going on for me on this?

Doug Cronkhite


Rich responded:
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Hanson [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2003 9:27 AM
To: Cronkhite, Douglas M.
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: RE: Turbine Operating Rules


Hi Doug,

The rumor is true, at least in part...

The EC did consider and voted on the revised turbine operating rules as presented by the AMA Safety Committee at the November 1st Executive Council meeting. However, based on asserted legal and risk management concerns, Dave Brown has asked that there be further discussion on some aspects of the new rules.

There is a tentative EC conference call scheduled for tonight or tomorrow night regarding this issue. As the call does not constitute an official meeting of the EC, I can only speculate on the outcome of the call. I personally would support delaying the implementation of ANY rule change where there is uncertainty regarding the impact on the safety of lives, property and the overall well being of the hobby. It is my guess the topic of conversation will be: 1) Are there any legal or risk management concerns left unresolved? If so, is a delay in the implementation of the new rules warranted? And, 2) If a delay IS warranted, what is the appropriate mechanism for doing so?

I know this may not be the best news possible, but I hope it at least clarifies the issue.

Rich Hanson

My followup response is this:
Rich,

Thanks for the quick response. I emailed Dave Brown directly on this as well and have heard no reply as yet.

I agree safety must be of a high concern, but at the same time I question if Dave Brown should have the power to simply demand the entire issue be put on hold following a vote which was not a highly contested issue. The vote was 8 to 3 if I remember correctly. Being a turbine pilot myself, I also question whether Dave truly understands the issues, or if he is reacting to inaccurate data or just personal impressions from those not involved actively within the jet community. The JPO put a lot of work into these new operating rules and took input from a wide scope of people. For Dave to invalidate all of this hard work simply based upon his own opinion is not serving the AMA membership.

Please pass my feelings along that the JPO recommendations should be implemented as per the EC's original vote.

Doug Cronkhite