Wed, Jun 19, 2013
Sets Standard Methodology For Evaluation, Describes Selection And Orientation Of Team Members
The FAA has published an order revising the Amateur-Built Aircraft National Kit Evaluation Team (NKET), defining policy and procedures and establishes a standard methodology to evaluate amateur-built aircraft kits. It also describes the selection and orientation of team members, the process for requesting an aircraft kit evaluation, the conduct of evaluations, and reporting and records maintenance requirements.
The FAA says the goal of the NKET is to ensure that amateur-built aircraft kit evaluations are performed in accordance with national policy. The purpose of the kit evaluation is to determine if an aircraft kit allows an amateur builder to meet the major portion requirement of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, part 21, Certification Procedures for Products and Parts, 21.191(g).
The order describes the use of the NKET when evaluating an amateur-built aircraft kit at the kit manufacturer's facility or place of distribution for the following purposes:
- The evaluation of newly developed kits.
- The reevaluation of previously evaluated kits with design changes (derivative kits) that may affect the fabrication and/or assembly percentage totals of the amateur builder.
- The reevaluation of previously evaluated kits that the FAA determined(s) may not meet the major portion requirement of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 21, Certification Procedures for Products and Parts, 21.191(g).
The revision makes minor content changes to the order to transfer responsibility for managing the NKET program to the FAA's Small Airplane Directorate (ACE-100).
ACE-100 is responsible for the overall management and conduct of the NKET. The Aircraft Certification Service' Production and Airworthiness Division (AIR-200) is responsible for updating the FAA Amateur-Built Aircraft Kits web page including the Revised Listing of Amateur-Built Aircraft Kits, the Amateur-Built Kits Checklists and Eligibility Letters, and the Amateur-Built Fabrication and Assembly Checklists for use by the NKET and the flying public.
Manufacturers may submit a request for an aircraft kit evaluation for many reasons, including those found in chapter 1, paragraph 1 of this order. A request for reevaluation is not required for new owners of companies that produce a kit(s) previously evaluated and currently posted to the Revised Listing of Amateur-Built Aircraft Kits located on the FAA website. The NKET will consider requests for a kit evaluation only from manufacturers of amateur-built aircraft kits. Requests from kit distributors or dealers are not accepted.
More News
Aero Linx: International Business Aviation Council Ltd IBAC promotes the growth of business aviation, benefiting all sectors of the industry and all regions of the world. As a non->[...]
"During the annual inspection of the B-24 “Diamond Lil” this off-season, we made the determination that 'Lil' needs some new feathers. Due to weathering, the cloth-cove>[...]
Also: Bushcat Woes, Hummingbird 300 SL 4-Seat Heli Kit, Carbon Cub UL The newest Junkers is a faithful recreation that mates a 7-cylinder Verner radial engine to the airframe offer>[...]
Also: Seaplane Pilots Association, Rotax 916’s First Year, Gene Conrad After a decade and a half of struggling with the FAA and other aero-politics, G100UL is in production a>[...]
Also: Martha King Scholarship, Montaer Grows, Textron Updates Pistons, FlySto The FAA is hiring thousands of air traffic controllers, but the window to apply will only be open for >[...]