Comments on: Final FAA bill includes partial extension of CSLAA provision

By: Rand Simberg

Rand Simberg — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:08:41 +0000

I have heard the FAA manager for space discuss the issue and I donâ€™t believe it is accurate to say the FAA is not interested in promoting commercial human spaceflight any more than it is opposed to airline operations.

FAA-AST is the only part of the FAA that retains a charter to promote the industry, since the change after the ValuJet disaster.

By: Vladislaw

Vladislaw — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:48:15 +0000

“Even with this extension space commercial companies remain at the mercy of Congressional action or FAA regulation, neither of which is really interested in helping this new industry.”

Since when hasn’t commercial companies and industries been at the mercy of congress to pass laws that restricts/taxes them?

By: vulture4

vulture4 — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:30:53 +0000

I have heard the FAA manager for space discuss the issue and I don’t believe it is accurate to say the FAA is not interested in promoting commercial human spaceflight any more than it is opposed to airline operations. Pilots of experimental aircraft are free to accept considerable risk, while the public expects some degree of safety. What regulations are really needed is an evolving question and the agency is making an honest effort to communicate with the industry and the public to identify the most reasonable approach.

By: Rand Simberg

Rand Simberg — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:10:06 +0000

I said CSLAA was a bad idea when it was first passed, and I stand by that now. All it did was hand power to the FAA and Congress to restrict commercial activities in space.

Bob, it has had that power ever since we signed the OST in 1967. The current legislation is the least painful way for them to exercise it. There is a long history there.

By: Robert Zimmerman

Robert Zimmerman — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:48:27 +0000

I said CSLAA was a bad idea when it was first passed, and I stand by that now. All it did was hand power to the FAA and Congress to restrict commercial activities in space. Even with this extension space commercial companies remain at the mercy of Congressional action or FAA regulation, neither of which is really interested in helping this new industry. Ideally, the bill should be repealed. Realistically, that isn't going to happen, so the best thing that can happen is for this new industry to make as much progress as fast as possible, making as much money as they can, so that they can garner enough political clout to fight the regulatory burdens the law puts on them. Maybe eventually they will be powerful enough to force the law's revision or repeal.

By: Rand Simberg

Rand Simberg — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:14:13 +0000

Well, at least it buys some time. We can continue to work on a full extension in future sessions.