[JYO] informal "FAA Sounding Board"

FYI -

Ed
- - -

Hi all.  I'm writing to you to welcome you to an informal group of GA pilots
that will, from time to time, be invited to provide input to the FAA about
their Web site.  Some of you volunteered for this group via the DC Pilots
list, and I tossed a few of you into the mix because I know you and I
respect your opinions.

Most important:  I'll assume you want to get my requests for input unless I
hear otherwise, but there's no pressure.  If you want out, just let me know!
I'll try to remember to put everyone on the bcc: line so as not to share
your email address with anyone else.

On the flip side, if you know people who would enjoy being part of my list,
just have them email me.

So what's the deal?  My job includes helping to run the Web site for the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  I serve on a few interagency
Web-related groups, and through those I met a couple of people in charge of
the FAA site.  They're getting a new pilots page together right now, and
they're extremely interested in hearing from GA pilots.  They know groups
like AOPA will ring in loudly, but they're also interested in what we,
small-time individual pilots, would like to get out of the FAA Web site.

There's nothing secret or limited in who can give them input, and this
certainly isn't the only way they collect ideas.  But they asked me if I
could help collect ideas from interested pilots informally, and I agreed.
It's fun for me to see my aviation and professional worlds collide, and you
have the chance to have your ideas heard by people who can actually make a
difference in the service we get through the FAA Web site.

Ok, enough intro.

First, what would you, as a GA pilot, most want to see on the home page?
What services are a must-have, what would you want to find linked from some
page off the home page, and what would waste your time?  Let your
imagination run wild.  There are no promises about what'll happen, but your
good ideas can only help.

Second, the FAA is interested in pulling together a couple of live focus
groups to do the same thing as this informal poll, but more formally.  They
need to get a variety of people here in the DC area together.  I know a few
of you have already expressed interest, but if any of the rest of you would
like to participate, let me know.  Again, they'll be looking for a diverse
group, so expressing interest doesn't necessarily mean you'll participate.

Finally, as new policies or rules come out, I'll try to alert you to
comment.  Speaking as a former regulation writer, trust me when I tell you
how powerful well-written, thoughtful comments can be.

Thanks, and I look forward to working with all of you to make sure the FAA
Web site serves us GA pilots!

Jeffrey Levy

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