FAA Tries to Stop Release of Tribes 2

Today Federal Aviation Administration officials served notice to Dynamix that the U.S. government agency is opposing the upcoming release of Tribes 2. Apparently, the "flight-capable vehicles" in the game have serious safety and airworthiness deficiencies.

"The FAA takes an aggressive stance when it comes to passenger flight safety," said John Hickey, director of the FAA's Aircraft Certification Services. "These aircraft, and I use the term loosely, are a walking timebomb of accidents waiting to happen. Where do I begin?

"First, there is no pilot certification of any kind. Any Joe Jetpack that walks up to a vehicle station can acquire an aircraft without concern for training, rating status, or filing a flight plan. Ground crew? Pre-flight checklist? There aren't any.

"These vehicles have no safety features of any kind," continued Hickey. "The pilot alone presumably has some sort of flight controls to hang on to, but passengers merely occupy a cubbyhole on the side of the vehicle. I mean, these things fly at altitude, and there's nothing holding the passengers in. They can jump off the aircraft whenever they wish. And even with jetpacks, elective disembarking at altitude can undesirably affect bodily integrity." Meaning, severe injury or death.

Dynamix officials responded under condition of anonymity. "Leave it to the new Administration to start enforcing areas in which they're not qualified. Why don't they concern themselves with the real issues? Next thing you know, they'll be investigating Beowulf rollover accidents."