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The comments below get many in trouble as they don't want to be perceived as
weak or a sissy. This macho pilot image thing has injured or killed many
that might become excellent skilled pilot/owner/builders if some one with
better qualifications did the first flight. The first flight is a high
stress event. Statistics have shown that reducing that stress can minimize
crashes in the first few flights.
With that in mind EAA has set up some help for those that think they just
have to make the first flight. They have a Flight Advisor Program plus the
best idea is getting some Transition Training from a CFI and Flying plane
of the make and model or very similar airplane. This can also be helpful
when making the first flight after a long restoration.
Having someone else do the test flight still doesn't make you the competent
pilot you need to be to fly your airplane. You need experience and recent
practice.
One of the biggest problems that the builder faces is lack of current flying
time. They make a choice as to where the money and time is spent. Many
times it is spent on the building phase so that their flying skills get very
rusty. They need some time in type to be able to handle the everyday flying
problems. They need some transition training.
The Transition Training FAA Waiver is available free from the EAA. This
makes it possible for the owner to rent your the plane just like the one you
are building. The only restriction is the plane must have 100 hour
conditional inspections.
Members of EAA as part of their membership have a data base of planes that
are registered for transition training. You need to consult your EAA
magazine for the 1-888 phone number. Ask for Jan Streblow for the type and a
convenient location. We are working on placing this data base in the
"members only" of www.eaa.org. web site for easier access.
Do I believe in Transition Training? Of course I do and so do the insurance
companies. Ever buy a plane? Just to get it insured, I had to take 10
hours in my Bellanca before I could solo. Those 10 hours were better
insurance than the insurance company's. I became qualified to fly my plane
safely.
Cy Galley
Editor, EAA Safety Programs
cgalley@qcbc.org or experimenter@eaa.org
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ted Stanley" <ted@vineyard.net>
To: "Lancair Mailing List" <lml@lancaironline.net>
Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2002 5:17 AM
Subject: [LML] Re: Test Flight
My thoughts on hiring a test pilot for the first flight. Did you send
someone else on your honeymoon? If you can't fly it the first time, you
should not have built it! Each airplane is type specific, )kind of like
women) no one knows it better than you! Insurance, no one has enough
insurance for a homebuilt. Beware of so called qualifications.
Jim Hankins
I read the comments (above) of Jim Hankins. I do hope that other builders
will not be infected with this same attitude. While his bravado may seem
compelling, the same cannot be said of his logic. I do however agree with
his admonition to "beware of so called qualifications". By the way Jim, what
are yours ?
Ted Stanley - A&P-IA - 11,000 PIC - current FAR 135 - Aviation Safety
Counselor - IV
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