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A prospective buyer of my 2012 Sonex is trying to arrange for training by a CFI. I tried to add his CFI as a pilot on my Falcon Insurance, but they won't do that unless I can find a CFI with Sonex time. Big catch. Anyone know of a CFI with Sonex time somewhat near Eugene, Oregon? Others have this problem?
Bill

Hi Bill,
I tried to add a friend who is a CFII, has thousands and thousands of hours, flown helicopters to business jets and everything in between, so he could fly my Onex. Insurance said he needed a couple of hours seat time in a Sonex and it would cost me an Extra 100 bucks a year. I did have another Onex driver listed at no cost. Haven't been able to get any Sonex seat time so it hasn't happened. Looks to me like there is a need on the West Coast for a Sonex CFI.

Washington State

Bill, he is not real close but Allan Fisher is based in the Richland WA area and is a highly experienced CFI, flies his own Sonex and also loves to fly at the drop of a hat. He recently flew his Sonex back to WA after wintering in CA, something he does every year. You may want to call him and see if anything can be worked out (509) 301-3461. Tell him hello from me.

Good luck,

Art (Lake California)..............Sonex taildragger #95............Jabiru 3300 #261

I am a CFI with 180 hours Sonex tailwheel. I live in Los Angeles. I would have to look into the regulations about any training. I do know you need an LODA to use an experimental aircraft for training.

Gripdana wrote:I am a CFI with 180 hours Sonex tailwheel. I live in Los Angeles. I would have to look into the regulations about any training. I do know you need an LODA to use an experimental aircraft for training.

You only need a LODA to charge for the use of your own experimental aircraft. No problem instructing in an experimental as long as you don't charge for the use of the airplane, ie use the customer's. You can charge for your time either way. (We have a CFI who's a co-owner of our Sonex, so we've looked into this quite a bit.)

lutorm wrote:You only need a LODA to charge for the use of your own experimental aircraft. No problem instructing in an experimental as long as you don't charge for the use of the airplane, ie use the customer's. You can charge for your time either way.

Yep, this is correct. There's no need for a LODA unless you want to charge a fee for the use of the airplane. You can do all the instructing you want, and get paid for it too, in any experimental airplane. This works great when the customer has their own airplane. No worries!

Insurance companies continue to be unreasonable (stupid). EAA555 has built a Waiex and the 1st flight has been flown. However, they cannot get anyone in the chapter insured without 5 hours with an instructor in a Sonex or Waiex. Also, I believe they want the instructor to have 5 hours in a Sonex/Waiex before he/she can do this instruction. These guys would appreciate any help!

Mike, and Chapter 555,

The question to ask the insurance company is what about members that already have time logged in type. How much time logged is acceptable - 5 hrs? 10 hrs? at some point dual instruction won't matter. Chapter members may have to get creative to get that time into their logbooks. Once they do, the insurance company should be just fine with them. In fact, once the first person gets approved it can be a chain-flying type approach, where a new member flies with an old (approved) member to build up PIC time in type. It's a lot of flying, but should be doable.

Jeff

A pilot can purchase “Renters Insurance” for about $100/year to cover himself when he uses. “rents” your plane to build hours. There seems to be no requirement for “in-type, make, model” experience. You have a choice of PD and PL and even hull coverage. Just a thot.

Try First Flight Insurance Group for 3rd part liability to get your pilots some time. They will accept non-CFI time in type or similar type/handling aircraft. After several hours, you can transition to another carrier like Falcon with enough time PIC to satisfy them. Also, Avemco accepts non-CFI time in type or similar type/handling. https://www.sonexaircraft.com/insurance/