the Matallized Mylar Flammable Blankets Removal Process
Peter 16
Despite Teddy Robinson's 'My understanding is....." etc the ATA successfully lobbied to have the metallized mylar flammable thermal acoustic insulation remain in situ another 5 years. I'm not sure exactly what date that now expires at - but it certainly isn't "yet". Airlines are always keen understandably to have any major disruptions occur during an aircraft's heavy maintenance period.
The ATA has lobbied to have the regulation on SDR logging deferred five times to date (and as a result it is still many years off). You may also have noticed that the FAA was recently "spinning" the savings of over $200M that they were effecting by deferring for yet another five years a whole assortment of programs (including the inerting of fuel tanks, SFAR 88, wiring safety initiatives etc etc).
But I guess you gotta sympathize because:
a. The airlines are having their fiscal nightmares and the low-cost models are raping and pillaging the majors
b. The quest for cheaper and assured fuel by invading IRAQ has backfired somewhat so what isn't being burnt when the pipelines blow is selling at the highest price ever
c. Even though there's not been any Stateside terror incidents since Sept 11th 2001, security remains at ORANGE (because there otherwise could be) - so people would rather not travel by air - nd load factors are down on many routes.
Bottom line is that safety initiatives are way down the pecking order and security initiatives are right up there.
SDR = Special Difficulty Report (the things that fail and cause airplanes to return)
ATA = Air Transport Assn (an amlgamated body of all the Stateside airlines). They have the FAA's "ear" (and nose and throat)