X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 14:30:58 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from mail-vb0-f44.google.com ([209.85.212.44] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 6.0.7) with ESMTPS id 6488412 for lml@lancaironline.net; Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:59:12 -0400 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=209.85.212.44; envelope-from=pjdmiller@gmail.com Received: by mail-vb0-f44.google.com with SMTP id e13so3698202vbg.31 for ; Tue, 24 Sep 2013 10:58:37 -0700 (PDT) MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Received: by 10.52.230.202 with SMTP id ta10mr1000126vdc.41.1380045517079; Tue, 24 Sep 2013 10:58:37 -0700 (PDT) Received: by 10.220.98.71 with HTTP; Tue, 24 Sep 2013 10:58:36 -0700 (PDT) In-Reply-To: References: X-Original-Date: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 11:58:36 -0600 X-Original-Message-ID: Subject: Re: Undeliverable mail: Re: [LML] Re: Question on Legacy MG Strut From: Paul Miller X-Original-To: Lancair Mailing List Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=089e0111d926d1cb8904e724e2a7 --089e0111d926d1cb8904e724e2a7 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 I found your note on the liability waiver and refusal to provide instructions an interesting position by Lancair. I'd like to expand the topic and make a few comments about owners being able to maintain their aircraft in an airworthy condition. I have personal and group involvement in this matter with certified aircraft. For decades the alphabet groups and FAA and manufacturers have been fighting over the FARs that requires type certificated US aircraft manufacturers to make available airworthiness instructions to the "owner" so that the aircraft can be maintained in an airworthy condition at all times. This means instructions, parts availability, CRMs and more. Many manufacturers have gone to extremes to satisfy that requirement. Some firms like Airbus do not want to disclose proprietary data and have purposely not adhered to the FARs in this respect and forced owners to overhaul or replace parts at great expense. Those battles continue. Conversely, companies like Beech and Cessna have long made the parts and data available and Cessna will even cross-reference Cessna part numbers for original part numbers so you can go source the original or generic part needed (o-rings, motors, brushes etc). King Air landing gear (for example) is arguably more complex than an ESCO strut but the Beech gear can: a) be exchanged at Beech or b) sent to any shop of your choice qualified in that category or c) repaired and overhauled in your own hangar. That's because Beech makes available to owners and shops all the Component Repair Manuals and instructions needed to accomplish the tasks. While Lancairs may be different because of the experimental category, these aircraft must still be maintained in an airworthy condition. Therefore, I would argue that Lancair should make the data available to any owner or shop so that Lancairs can be maintained in an airworthy condition whether it be repairs, overhauls, inspections or whatever is needed to ensure airworthiness. Those procedures and the parts necessary to maintain them are part of what makes the Lancair an airplane--not just the original kit. If I were running the ship, I'd do whatever I can to make the operating costs for Lancairs as low as possible. I'd publish and sell a complete set of manuals for overhaul and repair instructions (as TCM does for the engine) plus I'd offer to perform the work in-house as well (if that makes sense). That makes for a very happy owner group and keeps costs under control and allows everyone in the world to maintain an airworthy airplane. It is the owner's airplane, the owner's strut and the owner's responsibility to maintain it in an airworthy condition. The data to keep it airworthy is not proprietary and should not be locked away in someone else's cabinet. That's just wrong. I could be wrong but I look forward to comments on that position and I suggest anyone looking to buy any airplane simply ask where all the instructions for continued airworthiness reside. The answers can be revealing. Paul On 24 September 2013 04:19, Valin & Allyson Thorn wrote: > Paul, > > Normally this work is done by Lancair and that is their strong > preference. We wanted to do it ourselves for its educational value. After > some deliberations, Lancair agreed and required us signing a liability > waiver and they would provide absolutely no instructions but would sell us > the seals. > --089e0111d926d1cb8904e724e2a7 Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
I found your note on the liability waiver and = refusal to provide instructions an interesting position by Lancair. =A0I= 9;d like to expand the topic and make a few comments about owners being abl= e to maintain their aircraft in an airworthy condition. =A0I have personal = and group involvement in this matter with certified aircraft.

For de= cades the alphabet groups and FAA and manufacturers have been fighting over= the FARs that requires type certificated US aircraft manufacturers to make= available airworthiness instructions to the "owner" so that the = aircraft can be maintained in an airworthy condition at all times. =A0This = means instructions, parts availability, CRMs and more. =A0Many manufacturer= s have gone to extremes to satisfy that requirement.

Some firms like Airbus do not want to disclose proprietary d= ata and have purposely not adhered to the FARs in this respect and forced o= wners to overhaul or replace parts at great expense. =A0Those battles conti= nue. =A0 Conversely, companies like Beech and Cessna have long made the par= ts and data available and Cessna will even cross-reference Cessna part numb= ers for original part numbers so you can go source the original or generic = part needed =A0(o-rings, motors, brushes etc). =A0King Air landing gear=A0(= for example)=A0is arguably more complex than an ESCO strut but the Beech ge= ar can:

=A0a) be exchanged at Beech or
=A0b) sent to = any shop of your choice qualified in that category or
=A0c) repai= red and overhauled in your own hangar.

That's = because Beech makes available to owners and shops all the Component Repair = Manuals and instructions needed to accomplish the tasks.

While Lancairs may be different because of the experime= ntal category, these aircraft must still be maintained in an airworthy cond= ition. =A0Therefore, I would argue that Lancair should make the data availa= ble to any owner or shop so that Lancairs can be maintained in an airworthy= condition whether it be repairs, overhauls, inspections or whatever is nee= ded to ensure airworthiness. =A0Those procedures and the parts necessary to= maintain them are part of what makes the Lancair an airplane--not just the= original kit.

If I were running the ship, I'd do whatever I can t= o make the operating costs for Lancairs as low as possible. =A0I'd publ= ish and sell a complete set of manuals for overhaul and repair instructions= (as TCM does for the engine) plus I'd offer to perform the work in-hou= se as well (if that makes sense). =A0That makes for a very happy owner grou= p and keeps costs under control and allows everyone in the world to maintai= n an airworthy airplane.

It is the owner's airpla= ne, the owner's strut and the owner's responsibility to maintain it= in an airworthy condition. =A0The data to keep it airworthy is not proprie= tary and should not be locked away in someone else's cabinet. =A0That&#= 39;s just wrong.

I could be = wrong but I look forward to comments on that position and I suggest anyone = looking to buy any airplane simply ask where all the instructions for conti= nued airworthiness reside. =A0 The answers can be revealing.

Paul
On 24 September 2013 04:19, Valin & Allyson= Thorn=A0<thorn@starflight.aero>=A0wrote:

Paul,

Normally this work is done by Lancai= r and that is their strong preference.=A0=A0We wanted to do it ourselves fo= r its educational value.=A0=A0After some deliberations, Lancair agreed and = required us signing a liability waiver and they would provide absolutely no= instructions but would sell us the seals.

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