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
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the practical test.
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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.
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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.