Fuel Costs -- time to make a statement!

[mgh]

The automotive industry does not have to pay millions in certification costs or be concerned (for the most part) about multi-million dollar lawsuits.

 

The automotive industry paid tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars on R&D to develop engines that could run on lead free.

[Great Ozzie]

The automotive industry paid tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars on R&D to develop engines that could run on lead free.

 

I'm not sure the point, mgh... I know you are not suggesting e.g. TCM (Continental Motors) and Lycoming would have no R&D costs...

 

somehow they never get off the ground

 

I once heard things change in Aviation when either it is:

 

a] Better

b] Cheaper.

 

I think it's " b]" in this case... once again... getting past the certification costs / paperwork / work... you have to have a market... and even then you have to be concerned (at least in the U.S.) about lawsuits... because the first time one of these planes crash and injuries / death is involved, there is going to be a lawsuit and the first named in the gazillion dollar lawsuit will be the airframe & engine manufacturer (the deep pockets). Harry the Homebuilder (who I hoped to be myself too)... not so bad for him as "you can't get blood out of a turnip" and he'll be operating under an experimental certificate. So he can use that experimental engine. Problem is not very many of us Harry Homebuilders out there.

 

Past decades there is always talk about newer tech engines... the occasional bone thrown out (like the above Honda)... The market just isn't there to support it... Anyone remember this? http://www.planeandp...m-lycoming.html (first paragraph)

 

How many hours will have to be flown on that JT-A Skylane to make it "worthwhile"... 1000? 2000? 3000? Hard to justify the extra price (assuming one could afford it). Say I am interested to purchase... I am going to have questions about reliability, servicing, part availability, engine AD history (airworthiness directive)... now I am going to have to be convinced it is superior (better) or cheaper (assuming I accept it is an "equivalent" replacement) to run compared to the standard IO-540 Lyc that is used.

 

Hopefully the market will support it... we'll just have to see...

[mgh]

I'm not sure the point, mgh... I know you are not suggesting e.g. TCM (Continental Motors) and Lycoming would have no R&D costs...

 

i'm suggesting this is special pleading on behalf of an industry that whats to continue to pollute the atmosphere on the grounds that it can't afford not to.

 

That's exactly the same unsuccessful pleading that the automotive industry made. It didn't work for them despite being mich more important to the economy than GA,

[Great Ozzie]

Wow... ok...

 

Ken... serve up...

 

Btw I wouldn't call a couple thousand $ per unit "exactly the same" as tens of thousands of $ per unit.

 

That's exactly the same unsuccessful pleading that the automotive industry made.

 

So explain to me why not "the switch" in the Aviation Industry here. Better lobbyists?

[mgh]

So explain to me why not "the switch" in the Aviation Industry here. Better lobbyists?

 

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Rob Osborne - BAW633

 

The fact remains surely that GA is arguing it should be allowed to continue to pollute the atmmosphere because it can't afford not to?

[Great Ozzie]

The fact remains surely that GA is arguing it should be allowed to continue to pollute the atmmosphere because it can't afford not to?

 

If one makes this accusation, I (most assuredly will) find it hypocritical since our daily existence spent in "modern living" is a veritable symphony of pollution.

 

If you want to break the back of U.S. GA, mandate a switch to diesel. Cessna is bought completely out by China... CAIC can build the airframes and SAM the engines... then Mr Gallagher's perception (or maybe, more accurately, his perception of the public perception) will be closer in line with (the future) reality.

 

Of course, before that happens, maybe our current administration will get a second term... and we can have a "cash for clunkers" program for old GA aircraft and everyone lives happily ever after.