Another AOPA failure, IMO

Just when I'd begun to lose faith in the forum ;) Well written sir.

We’re a strange tribe, Americans. No more expensive FAA DPEs on the federal tit. We insist that private sector is better than government at doing everything and then complain when government functions are private sectorized and it cost a fortune because of artificial scarcity to keep the prices up.
 
Curious what you think they should be doing with the $50M annual budget that pilots paid to "protect their rights"?

Ever hear of the free market? Supply and demand? What do you expect AOPA to do, contact manufacturers and demand they reduce their cost? Perhaps contact refineries and demand they reduce the price of fuel they produce? Or demand the FAA set limits on what a DPE can charge?
 
Ever hear of the free market? Supply and demand? What do you expect AOPA to do, contact manufacturers and demand they reduce their cost? Perhaps contact refineries and demand they reduce the price of fuel they produce? Or demand the FAA set limits on what a DPE can charge?
Nope, none of those things. Identify problems that can be fixed, then work on getting them fixed. If there is an administrative reason the DPE fees have gone up 2-3X and waiting has gone to 2-3 months, then work with the stakeholders to fix the problem.
 
If there is an administrative reason the DPE fees have gone up 2-3X and waiting has gone to 2-3 months, then work with the stakeholders to fix the problem.

You do understand that DPE's are "designees", people appointed outside of the FAA to provide a service. Those fees are set by the DPE's themselves. Do you suggest AOPA should demand the DPE's drop their rates?
 
You do understand that DPE's are "designees", people appointed outside of the FAA to provide a service. Those fees are set by the DPE's themselves. Do you suggest AOPA should demand the DPE's drop their rates?
And let's not forget that DPEs are also airplane owners and pilots, and members of AOPA, maybe even at higher rates than the posters in this thread.
 
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