Pace
I think you have a super idea.
It would not be difficult to create an on line petition (much as the old No 10 petition). I think it would need to record and display certain public information, but also should record the creditials of the pilots - I would suggest a license number and license origin would suffice. I was involved with the petition to No 10 with regards the IMC rating which attracted over 5,000 signatories. Unfortunately (and sadly not surprisingly) a few
pr*ts decided to sign in false names and, to the extent there was a legitimate challenge to the validity of the petition, it was from those who claimed the creditials of some of the signatories could be called into question. Mind you I dont think the petition should only be open to pilots, but it would be as well to be able to divide the petitioners between pilots and others.
I know beyond any doubt the last petition had a very significant impact on the regulatory process so depsite those who claimed it was a waste of time it served a valid purpose. Indeed in recent months we have seen AOPA come out very firmly in favour of retaining the IMCr.
That is not to devalue the contribution of AOPA on this issue. However sadly they represent very few of the pilot community (something around 5% I think, and that is just in the UK). In fact we collected more support for the IMCr than if the whole of the AOPA membership had come out in favour - which demonstrates well the power of PPRuNe and the darker side.
This is exactly what GA needs. It needs pilot knocking on EASA door with force, with the backing of thousands of names, with petitions that end up at the doors of Euro MPs - otherwise as ever, it is all to easy for them to say - well we gave you the chance to comment, albiet we made the process so tortuous that it is hardly surprising almost no one bothered.
So Pace - what are you going to do about it.
and so IO540, 421C and the rest of you who say you dont like / or support the proposals - what do you have in mind?