FAA's new proposed "PLA's" what it all means.

[stratostar 5]

Well I hope you all been very busy getting your comments into the FAA. This is the last week for you to submit your comments, hell you can even do so via email, so get off your lazy asses and write the FAA, before Friday if you have not yet done so!

I was talking to a few jumpers @ the redemption boogie, who all told this new PLA standard the FAA is going to force down on us, will not harm, them, they jump @ a club on a private airport....

All the while failing to understand the very event/boogie they all love would no longer be allowed to operate on that airport as they have done for the last 5 or so years, if it would even allowed on that airport at all under the new standard.

Many of you may not understand that many of the events you have grown to know & love, might be impacted to the point this might be your last couch freaks/redemption (insert event name of your choice) as you come to know it.

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[Ron 10]

People keep forgetting that for the FAA to be involved, they have to have a standard they can reference.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[stratostar 5]

We'll just have to agree to disagree here. There are a number of current rules and guidance that is not being followed by the FAA, that would be, the rules, standards, FAR, grant assurances, that are on the books now not being enforced.

Regardless, have you submitted your comments?

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[Ron 10]

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Regardless, have you submitted your comments?

If I send comments, it will be that they have to establish standards so they can intervene in airport access issues and ensure safe operations for all involved. Still want me to send in a comment?

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[stratostar 5]

Yours couldn't be any worse then all the airports who are telling the FAA to ban skydiving all together. Honestly, many of your comments on this subject sound just like the bitter airport sponsors who hate skydiving and want it banned from all federal funded airports.

So yea, send in your comment. The FAA is going to as they please. At least if you comment, well then you got room to bitch or not bitch about it.

Those who sit on their asses here and fail to do shit on this, will have no reason or room to say shit about it.

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[Ron 10]

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Honestly, many of your comments on this subject sound just like the bitter airport sponsors who hate skydiving and want it banned from all federal funded airports

Nope, I am just smart enough to know that if the FAA does get involved they have to have standards. Standards that they do not have now.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[stratostar 5]

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Standards that they do not have now.

And that comment, is why the USPA & I, will have to respectfully disagree with you on this issue. No hard feelings here. Maybe we are just not on the same page here because of typing our thoughts and point of view, and if we were to sit down and talk it over in greater detail, we might find more common ground on this issue?

Like I said, please do submit a comment if you wish to have a say, if you don't want a say in this, that is ok too.

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[stratostar 5]

FAA Extends PLA Comment Deadline

At USPA’s request, the Federal Aviation Administration extended the deadline for comments to the agency’s proposed Parachute Landing Area (PLA) criteria to August 27. Skydivers and DZ operators are encouraged to read the USPA presentation and then submit comments directly to the FAA using the e-mail address provided. More comments are needed on this important issue that could change existing on-airport drop zone areas. Please, do it now!

DZOs can use the DZ Memo and Survey, first sent by USPA on July 3 and found here, to establish whether their operations would be affected by the FAA proposal. Please send completed DZ surveys to govrelations@uspa.org and DZO comments directly to the FAA, with a copy to govrelations@uspa.org.

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[stratostar 5]

Reminder, Monday is the dead line for your comments.

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[stratostar 5]

In case anyone missed this USPA press release.

Quote

USPA Urges FAA to Withdraw Landing Area Proposal (updated 08/27/12)

In comments filed today, August 27, with the Federal Aviation Administration, USPA urged the agency to withdraw its proposed standard for parachute landing areas (PLAs) for airports that have received federal grants. With 20 pages of comments supported by 32 pages of attachments, USPA showed that the FAA proposal is not supported by any history of incidents or accidents; that the proposal will not allow new PLAs to be established safely and efficiently, as the agency claims; and that the retroactive application of the PLA standard to current skydiving businesses will be economically harmful and may even decrease the current level of safety at some airports.

“There is no safety justification for the FAA’s proposed standard,” said Ed Scott, USPA’s Executive Director, “and it’s clear that the FAA has not fully considered the economic harm that will occur to skydiving businesses. Nor have they considered the unintended safety consequences of their proposal.” USPA is urging the FAA to start over and pledges to work with agency officials on a PLA standard that both skydiving businesses and airport managers can live with. “If the FAA believes it needs a standard, then it needs to take the time to do it correctly and not harm one of the few segments of aviation that is currently flourishing,” said Scott. USPA’s comments can be found here.

Interesting read. Interesting list of effected dz's.

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo