Here's my take on what could reverse the trend and help foster GA reinvestment:
OWNER-EXPERIMENTAL. That's right. You just alleviated both of the complaints on the owner/operator experience: money and regulations. No longer putting a de facto automotive part like an electric fuel pump, starter or alternator cost you a ridiculous AMU. It would also bring in a lot more value to the 4 seater certified spam cans, which still present a great value over the 4-seater options available in the experimental market. Then you have the incredible safety increase by allowing "non-TSO" avionics into your cockpit, which also doubles in non-economic value by having greater ramp appeal to the demographics who were raised behind LCD screens.
It truly is possible, if the regulatory bodies would allow it. If I could successfully push the idea the maintenance of that aircraft, in terms of parts and inspection costs, would be more in tune with specialty (read low end boats) applications, it would spark a whole lot more interest, especially among people who are itching to get in but the financial horror stories of 30AMU 1930s tractor engines and 2+ AMU entry price for the yearly aviation equivalent of a car's "inspection sticker", keep them out.
I don't expect the boomers to buy into it. They've largely always winced at the idea of going experimental; adjudicated such desires as the negligent corner-cutting attitudes that don't belong in their pseudo-elitist world of competitive regulation-compliance. I still think we can revitalize the neglected spam can fleet waiting their number to the salvage yard, if we go owner-experimental!
As to my personal angle, at almost 31 years old, I recognize I may be in the 'Last of the Comanche' generation to this American Tale, destined to be shot and herded into obsolescence when the numbers dwindle enough to make our plight the postulations of a few remaining die-hards with no political relevance. Maybe so... But I'll refuse to give up the freedom of flight afforded to me by those who fought and died before me. To me, being an American means having the freedom and access to vast expanses of land in my own mechanized contraption. To have the opportunity to "rent" a little patch of land for 80 years and call it my international airport. To take up the young ones and unshackle them from pedestrian compliant living, in ways no kid in Europe or Asia has access to readily. That is the beauty of this freggin' dying dream of a Country. It's the only reason I serve in the military, for not much else about our present day Country's population inspires me to sacrifice so much of my personal existence for what could be construed as anachronistic "moral abstractions". Nothing could be more real than these abstractions, to me.
As such, I'll go off the grid, scud run the rules if I have to. It's the American way in my mind. I'll teach my children to carry on that spirit and to scoff at the culture of blind compliance and snitching that is touted as good for you while it neuters your existence. I digress.
Now, I'm sure the fine folks at the FAA will be inspired by my humble plight and agree owner-experimental is not only great for aviation safety, it's also incredibly American in nature and just the damn right thing to do. Who's got my back?! *crickets crikets* Boy I feel like Jerry Maguire typing this.....
