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Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2005 22:54:41 -0400
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From: "Lowell Fitt" <lcfitt@sbcglobal.net>
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Subject: Re: [LML] Re: FAA trying to stop us my .02
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "BILL HANNAHAN" <wfhannahan@yahoo.com>
To: "Lancair Mailing List" <lml@lancaironline.net>
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 8:40 AM
Subject: [LML] Re: FAA trying to stop us my .02


>
> An amateur builder with no skills or experience can buy a 4P kit, build it
> in his back yard, get it certified, and then sell it to you.
>
> Dick VanGrunsven can buy a kit from his company, build it in his spare
> time, get it certified, and then sell it to you.
>
> If Dick sets up a factory to assemble RV's to impeccable standards he
> cannot get them certified, nor can you. Does this make any sense?

It actually makes perfect sense to me under current law.

I just finished a couple of minutes scanning relevent material on the FAA's 
web site and in every instance it refers to the aircraft type in question as 
"Amateur Built Aircraft"  and the airworthiness certificate issued to an 
amateur built aircraft is an Experimental Airworthiness Certificate.  I 
suspect this is the root of the problem.  Some might believe that the 
aircraft are "Experimental" and the amateur built part is a side issue. 
According to the regs that is not the case.  Amateur building is fundamental 
to the catagory.

My guess is that this whole thing started with Wilbur and Orville and the 
amateur built catagory was probably grandfathered in from there.  Granted 
there are people that do not enjoy the building process and just want to 
fly, but it sounds to me that what is wanted is a new catagory of aircraft 
similar to Light Sport Aircraft, but on the other end of the spectrum. 
Light Sport Aircraft and its corresponding Light Sport Pilot license was 
created to reduce the cost of entry level flying, which has broad interest 
in aviation including the certified manufacturers as most entry level pilots 
will eventually want something to fly that parforms a bit better than is 
allowed in this catagory. This should result in a shot in the arm to all of 
aviation.

Frankly, I doubt a factory built non certificated complex high performance 
aircraft is in the cards.  It satisfies too few needs in aviation. 
Certainly it is desired by some, but there is always the issue of wants vs. 
needs.  Unlike Light Sport Pilot and Light Sport Aircraft, there just isn't 
the need.   The EAA might want to help carry the issue, but I suspect if the 
idea was presented to the EAA membership for a vote, it wouldn't have a 
prayer as the EAA, despite its name is highly populated by a group of 
amateur builders who are not particularly eager to see their hobby diluted 
by a number of high rollers who watch their airplane being built through 
e-mail attachments.

I am enjoying the debate though.   Lately it's been the best part of LML

Lowell