Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.") It's part of what makes aviation so exciting for all of us... just when you think you've seen it all, along comes a scenario you've never imagined.

Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner, master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us -- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators, and as representatives of the flying community. Some of them, you may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be something we might never have considered before, or something that didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized it for the practical test.

It is our unabashed goal that "Aero-Tips" will help our readers become better, safer pilots -- as well as introducing our ground-bound readers to the concepts and principles that keep those strange aluminum-and-composite contraptions in the air... and allow them to soar magnificently through it.

Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you through the Aero-News Network. Suggestions for future Aero-Tips are always welcome, as are additions or discussion of each day's tips. Remember... when it comes to being better pilots, we're all in this together.

Aero-Tips 04.26.06

Here’s an interesting tidbit from AOPA’s recently released Aviation Fact Card for 2006: 10% of all general aviation aircraft in the US are licensed in the Experimental category—amateur-built, or “homebuilt” airplanes. (Note: this is even more striking when you consider the other 90% includes not only piston, but turboprop and jet GA airplanes).

Amateur-built airplane limitations

Every now and then someone in a pilot lounge or an on-line chat room brings up FAR 91.319, Aircraft having experimental certificates: Operating limitations. They’ll incite debate and ire by noting two statements in the regulation:

• No person may operate an aircraft that has an experimental certificate over a densely populated area or in a congested airway.
• Each person operating an aircraft that has an experimental certificate shall... operate under VFR, day only.

The resulting argument surrounds whether the airport’s new Skysplitter 5000 can legally fly IFR with its full-glass cockpit, or even fly over town coming to and fro.

But there’s more

Let’s put that debate (I’ve heard it in multiple locations) to bed by looking at "the rest of the story."

"... no person may operate an aircraft that has an experimental certificate over a densely populated area or in a congested airway" is preceded by the words "Unless otherwise authorized by the Administrator in special operating limitations..." And "each person operating an aircraft that has an experimental certificate shall... operate under VFR, day only..." goes on to say "...unless otherwise specifically authorized by the Administrator..."

The reality is that inspection for certification (as an Experimental airplane), the completion of required flight test and "flying off" the initial operating time generally removes the restriction about flying over populated areas or on congested airways; if the airplane is equipped for night and/or IFR flight and passes FAA muster, the prohibitions against these operations are removed as well. These FAA inspections and "fly-off" times constitute being "authorized by the Administrator."

Aero-tip of the day: Amateur-built airplanes can be approved for the same noncommercial flight operations as factory-built types. Read the full regulation before drawing a conclusion otherwise.

FMI: Aero-Tips