[Peetwo]

Bless Hitch –for a good man.  Saved me the trouble of editing miles of commentary to arrive at pretty much the same sort of conclusions.   I like the Hitch style; one can only hope that he continues to provide balanced reports like this one which picks out the bones and provides sensible commentary on both the good and the bad parts of a thing like Eureka.  He saved the best for last:-

It's true value is as a position paper for AOPA. Now they need to start an exhaustive program of constant lobbying to support their recommendations and show leadership for the GA community.

This is the beauty part, and full credit to De Stoop for finding a way to restore AOPA base principals and credibility.  It’s been many years since AOPA had that sort of standing. Although it may take a little while and fresh, active membership with vision to see it fully restored to it’s rightful position, you get a sense that De Stoop will get it there, in style.

In addition to the very good Hitch OP on Project Eureka, yesterday in his weekly wrap:

The Last Minute Hitch: 22 April 2016
22 Apr 2016



AOPA's Project Eureka Papers contain a lot of home truths, and that is going to make it a very unpopular document with a lot of people who cherish their egos and positions. It asks for a lot, but GA is in a state where a lot needs to happen. There is nothing in Eureka that serves as an eye-opener for general aviation, but a mountain of stuff that will open the eyes of people within the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development. However, seeing is not doing, and history shows politicians often need a reason to make change beyond the need for change itself; some political imperative that forces their hand. What is it general aviation has to catalyse change? Whereas papers like Eureka are valuable to state positions, they so often don't have an impact for lack of an alterior motive running in support.


To keep the momentum going, AOPA has organised a rally in Tamworth for 6 May, which has attracted the attention of Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, Minister for Transport Darren Chester and CASA Chairman Jeff Boyd. Coming just on the windward side of an election announcement, and scheduled for the Deputy PMs own marginal electorate, it is no wonder government reps are making sounds like they want to help. However, this is a good opportunity to make some noise, and the more voices that attend the greater weight behind the industry's issues. If you can get there, get there...

MTF...P2