Availability of POHs
I would like to know why light aircraft POHs are generally not available other than in bound and printed form and have to be ordered from the manufacturer or aviation supplier?
I can download the user manual for most purchases I make, of everything from food mixers to network routers to lawn mower engines, but not aircraft.
So before flying an unfamiliar aircraft, the POH (which legally may not be removed from the aircraft if it is to be flown) has to be read at the airport and replaced within a reasonable time.
If it were possible, the smart way to bone up on an aircraft's performance and limitations would be to download a copy of the POH off the Internet, which could then be studied at leisure at home and referred to whenever necessary. IMHO, by being better informed and prepared, this would result in safer aircraft operation.
So why isn't this information freely available?