Too bad that the FAA has made owning and maintaining an aircraft insanely expensive.
Interesting article in November Air & Space about Emergency Locators (ELTs). The article boosts a couple of privately developed digital ELTs which seem to be very effective, and cost between $1000-2000 installed. The article says FAA will not require these to be installed "because the cost would be too burdensome to aircraft owners". I remarked to my wife "that is the first time I ever heard of the FAA giving a d--n about cost to the owner". Then I read further and found that the FAA is eyeing a nationwide system that is primarily for traffic separation and control, and would cost $20,000 plus per aircraft. An FAA spokesperson was asked how this system would be better than the much less expensive, already existing digital ELTs. She replied "We have already given you an interview on that. I believe we are done here". Same old FAA!