Okay I’m going to take a stab at the points and questions.

GHOST RIDER - You are absolutely correct about individuals working outside of the recognized SIG (JPO) It has happened in the past and will most likely happen in the future. In a perfect world we would all pull together towards a common goal. In the AMA’s defense though they represent us all and in the AMA area of this forum there are folks that right in length that the AMA does not listen. So should they listen to individuals? Yes, because we all pay dues. But could they have suggested that they work through JPO, I think so.

LOV2FLYRC – The safety committee did look at the JPO proposal but did not act on it. In addition the AMA had the proposal from the individual previously mentioned. This had been to the EC in its raw form early in the summer and the EC had sent it back to committee for further review. Some how / some where within the AMA a whole new proposal was written and then shared with JPO right before the EC meeting. The stipulation given was that JPO could not discuss it out side of the board. JPO immediately saw many problems with it and reported these. By the time the EC meet JPO had come up with a bullet point paper listing the problems JPO saw. Dave Mathewson, JPO Liaison at the AMA tried very hard to convince the EC but to no avail. It passes 8/4.

I won’t even get into Docs. 567 – 570 needles to say you see many of the same problems JPO saw. There are many concerns with these new procedures, but the saving grace here is that it has a 12-month shelf life. It also is so cumbersome that very few will be able to use it. You need to also remember that it DOES NOT replace the current process but is in addition to.

MR MATT – JPO understand the process of communicating with the AMA and the AMA gave the procedures to us.

JPO’s liaison to the AMA is JPO Board Member Art Arro, Dist. II
The AMA’s Liaison to JPO is EC member Dave Mathewson

All communications to the AMA go through these channels. This also includes the JPO proposal and it did make it out of Committee.

Again the AMA was shown that the new procedures had many flaws. There was even a conference call with the JPO Pres., Art Arro, Dave Mathewson, and 2 AMA officials. But the AMA still would not bend. The AMA believes that they are helping jet pilots and for whatever reason cannot see the problems.

THUNDER JET – “Maybe the CDs should police this better. Not worry about successful and worry about safety.”

This statement is right on target. We must all work together to enforce and abide by the rules currently in place. When we see something wrong then speak up. We must police our self so that the AMA doesn’t feel the need to.

Now to sum it up, JPO is working very hard to try and correct issues like this. We were blind sided by this as all Jet Pilots were. JPO was told about it after the fact and despite our pleas it passed. The AMA also asks us not to write in forms like this, but I feel that you have the right to know. The AMA sees the Jet Community as a fractured bunch incapable of speaking with unity. They will never give Jet Pilots the respect I feel we deserve unless we put the past behind us, speak with one voice, and agree to disagree occasionally. I will ask you this as you read these words are you currently a JPO Member and if not why. America is a great country and our freedom of speech is one of our most precious gifts, but it can be used to unify as well as destroy. We must pull together as a group with ONE voice if we are going to be productive and respected. The AMA is watching and our actions will speak louder than words. Join JPO and help as a collective effort to educate all involved.

Dawn