FAA Publishes Additional Pilot Program

[Sonex1517]

From EAA:

FAA Publishes Additional Pilot Program

http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-news-and-aviation-news/eaa/2014-09-26_faa_publishes_additional_pilot_program

[kmacht]

Too bad it doesn't apply to those who plans built rather than bought the kit. Any auto conversion except for the aerovee are also prohibited from using the exemption (no corvairs, hondas, or even competitors vw engines). The pilot requirements are also pretty high. It may work for the RV folks but it is going to be tough to find many Sonex pilots that have enough time to meet the recency and experience requirements. To meet the required score of 60 on recency and 90 on experience they pretty much have to have:

1) 10 landings in the last 90 days (not too bad)
2) At least 100 hours of time in same model family (most likely had to own a sonex before)
3) At least 70 hours in the past 12 calendar months (no weekend fliers)
4) At least 500 hours of flight time in the same category and class (anything less is disqualifying)
5) At least 20 tailwheel landings in the last 12 calendar months
6) Have phase 1 flight experience (very few of these)
7) Flown at least 20 different makes and models as pic (thats a lot of different types of planes)

I don't quite get why the bar was set so high yet someone with 30 hours of sport pilot instruction can just hop in a brand new Sonex and go test fly it. It is a good first step and may help a few people but I don't see it as being the major milestone some were hoping for.

Keith
#554

[avee8r]

You're right, they have to start someplace. I guess that's why there's so much verbiage as to the "Why's". Otherwise, I imagine there'd be flights with two scared inexperienced pilots onboard. :o
Happy Landings
John

[Direct C51]

The EAA put out a good webinar on the additional pilot program. It's from July, so it's based on the draft, not the final approved version of the AC.

http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=3682661115001

[n982sx]

Keith,

Good summary, but not quite as out of reach as your list indicates. On first reading of your list I thought I was ruled out as a qualifying pilot by the 20 different types experience requirement. Not so.

Having over 300 hours in a Sonex makes it quite easy for me to meet the 90 points needed in the experience matrix. Surprisingly, the hardest rule for me to meet is the 70 hours in the last 12 months. Most years I would qualify, but because of the weather delayed start to my flying season this year, I would really have to pile up some hours in March and April next year to do this for someone next spring.

The plans built limitation is indeed a major goof in my opinion. I have a friend plans building who is doing such a great job I wouldn't hesitate to get in his plane.

Also, the observer pilot rules are a great advance. After as few as 8 hours by the builder pilot (which don't have to be the first 8 hours on the plane) they can take along an observer pilot for the rest of the 40 hours. The observer pilot rules are much more relaxed.

I think there will be more Sonex pilots available to do this - particularly observer pilots - than you think. Looks more interesting than I thought it would.