Here's an interesting tid-bit from this week's Aviation Week and Space Technology:
I knew they were working on updating rules to shut down the "build-for-you" shops, but this is the first I've heard of anything more expansive.
Kits Get a Lift
The FAA has terminated a temporary suspension of amateur-built aircraft kit evaluations that had been in effect since February 2008. The decision allows manufacturers of kit aircraft to resume submitting their kits for FAA evaluation to determine compliance with the long-standing “51% rule.” It requires the purchaser to fabricate a major portion of all tasks associated with constructionof an aircraft in order for it to qualify as amateur-built. If a kit manufacturer is determined to comply with that rule, it is included in the agency’s “51% approved list.” Three years ago, the FAA began investigating inconsistencies in the amateur-built community’s compliance with the rule. Frank Paskiewicz, manager of the FAA’s production and airworthiness division, says the new evaluation process defines policy and procedures for the National Kit Evaluation Team and establishes a “standard methodology to evaluate amateur-built aircraft kits.” In addition, the FAA is finalizing details of an overarching policy for interpreting and enforcing regulations governing amateur-built aircraft, of which more than 30,000 have been licensed by the agency. The Oshkosh, Wis.-based Experimental Aircraft Assn., which promotes and encourages the design and construction of experimental light aircraft, welcomes the news, calling it “further evidence” of the FAA’s intentions regarding its revision of policies for amateur-built aircraft.
Anyone know anything of the nature of the "...overarching policy for interpreting and enforcing regularions governing amateur-built aircraft..."?The FAA has terminated a temporary suspension of amateur-built aircraft kit evaluations that had been in effect since February 2008. The decision allows manufacturers of kit aircraft to resume submitting their kits for FAA evaluation to determine compliance with the long-standing “51% rule.” It requires the purchaser to fabricate a major portion of all tasks associated with constructionof an aircraft in order for it to qualify as amateur-built. If a kit manufacturer is determined to comply with that rule, it is included in the agency’s “51% approved list.” Three years ago, the FAA began investigating inconsistencies in the amateur-built community’s compliance with the rule. Frank Paskiewicz, manager of the FAA’s production and airworthiness division, says the new evaluation process defines policy and procedures for the National Kit Evaluation Team and establishes a “standard methodology to evaluate amateur-built aircraft kits.” In addition, the FAA is finalizing details of an overarching policy for interpreting and enforcing regulations governing amateur-built aircraft, of which more than 30,000 have been licensed by the agency. The Oshkosh, Wis.-based Experimental Aircraft Assn., which promotes and encourages the design and construction of experimental light aircraft, welcomes the news, calling it “further evidence” of the FAA’s intentions regarding its revision of policies for amateur-built aircraft.
I knew they were working on updating rules to shut down the "build-for-you" shops, but this is the first I've heard of anything more expansive.
