Derek and netters First off the comments about maintenance and repairs is correct and was made here on the KRnet just a few days ago. What one should do, especially if you are new to aircraft or mechanical maintenance or both, is read and study accepted authorities on the subject, such as Tony Bingelis, and get a copy of the FAA Part 43 and its associated Advisory Circular, (the AC can be downloaded, the AMT book is available at any pilot shop) in order to acquaint yourself with how to do the job safely. There may be other right ways to do something, but have been found to not be safe, as I found after my first aircraft inspection. Secondly, there is NO course for you to be able to take to do your own condition inspection, except to get your A&P license. The training course referred to applies to already licensed individuals as a guide on how they need to upgrade to add LSA aircraft to what they can repair, not the average layman off the street. The FAA wants to maintain quality control over the end result of flying aircraft. By having an initial inspection by a DAR and requiring an annual condition inspection (don't call it an annual inspection-only certified aircraft get those) performed by an A&P, anything not within acceptable standards is flagged for repair or correction, and then you can go fly.
ELSA stands for Experimental Light Sport Aircraft and is an aircraft that has been built to comply with the standards for the LSAC or Light Sport Aircraft Category. LSA stands for Light Sport Aircraft and applies to those aircraft that are mass produced under Part 23 Regs and the prototype is approved by the FAA for such production, and has 2 forms: completed kits, and over 51% complete (for quality control). My next comments are not to disuade anyone from building their dream aircraft, only do so with your eyes open. In the commentary given by the FAA after the final rule was published, the FAA National Representatives stated that the new category was intended to add regulation to the previously unregulated aircraft flying under Part 103. They specifically state that existing aircraft (such as completed KRs) cannot be modified to comply with the LSA standard and be re-certified in that category. They go on to state that the new category was never intended for this purpose. Those who are studying the regs and comments should not read portions, but rather the whole publishing, because sections like this are missed since they do not follow directly after the explaination of the standards and criteria. After several years of teaching the regs, you get used to seeing how one reg relies on another which relies on another and so on, and how they build upon one another. That is why you cannot look at just one part or you will miss a great deal. How does this apply to the KR and the Net? By using the KR plans as a guide and re-engineering the aircraft, probably at least new wings, possibly empennage as well, which becomes a new plane of your design, then you may be able to convince the FAA to allow it to be certified as an ELSA, in the LSA Category, once testing of your "prototype" has been accomplished. Your pink slip may be with held and only flights for testing be allowed which may have to be individually approved just like a manufacturer (because that is what you are for your plane) in order to prove the aircraft. If a Special Airworthiness is issued in the Amateur Built Category, I have not read anywhere where you can convert to ELSA. You take a big chance after all that investment of time and money if that is the only way you can go, using DL for medical and getting a Sport Pilot License. Also, you never know about the FAA. They may require only a licensed pilot with at least a Private can perform the test flying for your new design if it is to be certified as an ELSA, that remains to be seen. Your safe bet at this point is to choose an aircraft already approved and get into the air. Otherwise we may see your project on EBay also. Lastly, if you care about your family, DO NOT attempt to circumvent the Regs about using your license in place of your medical, if you have ever been denied a medical, OR have a condition that you know will disqualify you from receiving a medical. The Regs are very clear on this point and make it a pilot infraction violation if he knowingly flies under these condtions. If you have an incident or accident, it is very likely that you will have to go for a minimum drug test, possibly physical, if you survive, and definitely your body will have an autopsy done. The worst that could happen is that you lose the plane and then get blamed due to ineligiblity for flight, which means you did not qualify medically to fly! Can you say Pandora's Box! Solution: build with a partner who is licensed and go fly with them. Better to protect and be legal then risk it all. FLY SAFE! Colin & Bev Rainey KR2(td) N96TA Sanford, FL crain...@cfl.rr.com http://kr-builder.org/Colin/index.html
