The FAA has announced that public comments gathered online and in upcoming meetings will help the agency decide on future applications from warbird operators who wish to carry paying passengers.
The Living History Flight Experience exemptions have long allowed warbird operators to offset the cost of operating vintage aircraft; the current policy dates to 2006, and includes various requirements intended to maintain safety. Now, the FAA is posing a long list of questions, opening for public debate questions of whether current pilot qualification requirements are adequate, along with nearly every other aspect of operating a warbird for hire.
Meetings take place at FAA headquarters, 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, D.C., June 26 through 28 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Anyone who wishes to attend is asked to RSVP because space is likely to be limited: A recent near-miss with potential legislation that would have halted warbird flights prompted a groundswell of opposition and protest.