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Fingers Crossed for Favorable "51%" Outcome

Posted By:
EAA News
82
Posts
551
#1 Posted: 8/21/2009 11:51:05

From EAA.org:

August 21, 2009 — This week, members of the FAA’s Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) on amateur-building have circulated and signed their final report for publishing in the Federal Register. This report entails a comprehensive set of recommendations for FAA consideration as the agency prepares to issue its final policy revisions regarding interpretation and enforcement of the amateur-built experimental aircraft rules.

Read the article then discuss it here.



Brad Strand
Homebuilder or Craftsman
66
Posts
27
#2 Posted: 8/21/2009 22:12:06

I read the article and this sounds to me like a victory for homebuilders.  Those of us who were already doing 51% of the building do not seem to be affected at all.  As I understand it this came about because people were paying someone else to build their airplane and then licensing it in the experimental catagory as if they had built it themselves.  I percieve two problems with getting an airplane built this way.

First, there was no way of regulating and certifying who was building these aircraft.  While I am sure that no one has ever taken money for building an aircraft when they were not qualified to do so, the possibility does exist that this could happen in the future.  In order to protect the flying public this possibility needs to be eliminated.

Second, the owner of the aircraft, by listing themselves as the builder, has the right to work on the airplane.  If the owner did not actually build a major portion of the the airplane they may not have the knowledge to properly maintain the aircraft.

Many people enjoy flying.  I think this rule is another practical step toward keeping people safe while they do what they enjoy.