Getting an AOC IN 1990 took aound 3 months, a 50 page ops manual and not that many bucks
Getting an AOC today takes 1 - 2 years, costs a motza and requires an ops manual as thick as a phone book, a business plan and so much bull that the average applicant gives up.
So goes the way of GA, slowly dying, slowly leglslated out of business by the nanny state. You will tell your kids about it, very few even care.