[Pukin Dog]

Narby, we have a whole new generation coming soon of small, light aircraft, which I believe will restore GA to unprecedented popularity.

But, I am also worried, because GA training frankly sucks. I hate the fact that someone with no IFR can get in an aircraft and take off. The amount of navigation training needed for licensing is a joke.

Were standards to rise, I would say relax the regs, but that wont happen because the community wouldn't stand for it, or pay for it. So what other options are available to try to keep people safe, but to tighten the regs?

What would be your solution?

[narby]

So what other options are available to try to keep people safe, but to tighten the regs?

I'm hoping the new light airplane rules will help a lot. They're restricted to daylight, VFR, only two pax, and slow. That could make it cheaper to get into the sport, and if they want to go upwards to something as big as a Cirrus then that's another whole license.

This is a huge subject. I think a really big technology leap could make flying *dramatically* safer and easier. We have the technology literally in hand with GPS and high performance digital hardware. What we lack is software. Litteral software in the cockpit, software in the regs, and software between the ears with a new vision of how to use these tools much easier than the old steam guage rules we live with written in the 50's. The hardest of these to change is that software between the ears that's very hard to update with new ideas.

I'm and old grey pilot, but I'm also a computer geek and write navigation software for a GPS company. There are MUCH better ways than even the stuff in the glass cockpits.

[BARLOCK]

But, I am also worried, because GA training frankly sucks. I hate the fact that someone with no IFR can get in an aircraft and take off. The amount of navigation training needed for licensing is a joke.

I think it certainly is true that GA training sucks. I would make the supposition that most GA accidents are due to: 1) poor fuel planning, 2) weather, and 3) bad/no Take-Off & Landing Data, and thus easily avoidable. But I don't think more navigation training is the answer.

As a product of military flying training, the GA training in navigation seems wanting. On the other hand, 90% of the folks out there are using GPS, going navaid to navaid, or flying DR legs that probably aren't longer than 50 nm. Your VFR only GA pilot doesn't necessarily need all the navigation training, although it would certainly be useful.