Originally Posted by
Commando Cody
A "Catch-22" is showing up in FAA's rules for aircraft such as the AW609. According to Bryan Willows of the Bristow Grouip, an AW609 customer, the FAA now requires for training in the AW609 r at least a private powered lift license. The problem is that no civil pilot has one, so training others to get one is not possible. The only source is ex V-22 crews and they are in high demand from the airlines for conventional flying. How do we get there from here?
As with so many issues, money talks. Which means when the industry builds up an expensive inventory of aircraft without crews to fly them, funds will be devoted to lobbying the hallowed halls for changes to the FAA's way of thinking.