Scott, Technical counselors are there to help you, but are in no way a requirement.
The technical counselor and flight advisor programs are EAA programs that are in place to help you build a better airplane and to help you do a self evaluation of your skills to fly that plane when it's done. What you get is free inspections and advice from someone that has built at least one plane and completed test flying of that aircraft. These are people with the real world experience to answer your questions with sage advice from someone who has been there. The EAA recommends a minimum of three phased inspections. None are required. More inspections and advice are available. There is no charge for this program. The most I ever received for flying 100+ miles and spending a day with a builder was lunch. There is no requirement that you be a member of a local chapter, athough it would be nice if you could contribute back to the group that's there to help you. I have probably done more inspections for non-members than for local chapter members and participated as a tech counselor with no chapter association for two years. When it comes time for the FAA inspection, some DARs want to see that you have been working with a tech counselor as it helps them to know what's gone into the plane. Others could care less. There is no requirement. With regards to insurance, few insurance companies will issue hull coverage on a home built plane for the first 10 hours of flight unless the builder participated in the tech counselor and flight advisor programs. Keep in mind, that is only HULL insurance. I have never seen any insurance companies withhold liability insurance for not participating in those programs. Join the national EAA and the local chapter as a way to contribute back for a program that is there to help you. Attend when/if you can. Use the Tech Counselor as the resource he's meant to be. If you can't afford either the time or money join the local chapter, just join the national EAA, but use the programs. They are there to help you. Jeff Scott N1213W A&P Former Tech Counselor and Flight Advisor. On Wed, 5 Oct 2005 13:31:49 -0700 (PDT) Scott William <scot...@yahoo.com> writes: > > Recently, since I am embarking on this venture of > building the KR, I decided to hunt down my local EAA > chapter and possibly join. Upon speaking to them, > thier one and only tech inspector recently passed from > a long illness. Now, here comes reality: I am a member > of a bunch of clubs that i really don't have time for > now, and joining another just isn't something I want > to do. I'm sure they are a great bunch of folks, but I > just can't split myself a million ways. So, my > question is this: Is it absolutely necesasry to have > EAA tech inspections during the building process? > Will the FAA look unfavorably upon me if I don't? > > Scott >
