First Chris you pointed out to me that I mis-stated not having to have any
license to fly experimental solo, so I posted the statement from EAA and gave
you credit for pointing that out to me.
Secondly: call your local FSDO and talk to an airworthiness inspector and
they will tell you since the PIC of any aircraft is the only person who can
ground the aircraft, even the inspector cannot actually ground it. In a
technical way he does, because he tags it as inspected and having airworthiness
discrepancies. But it does not say it is grounded, and the pilot could take
that aircraft if he wanted to, but the inspector is almost garunteed to violate
him for flying an unairworthy aircraft. I was Asst. Chief Pilot for a major
flight school for 2 years and walked through many ramp inspections that were
performed routinely. Every one needs to understand that different procedures
and regs govern the progressive style maintenance performed on airliners and
large fleet type aircraft, than on general aviation aircraft we fly.
Third: If you read the exceptions in (k) it clearly states that the rating
limitations imposed by this section, meaning the whole 61.31 reg section, do
not apply to an aircraft operating under an experimental airworthiness
certificate. However, as Bria pointed out, and I stated in an earlier post, if
the inspector makes additional statements of standard, like the ones of
appropriate category & class rating, endorsements etc.. as long as those are a
part of that aircraft's operating manual that is what the PIC must ahve to fly
that particular aircraft.
Fourth: The inspector having the ability to add such requirements into the
operating leads me to believe that he probably would on a standard multi-engine
experimental, especially on anything turbojet powered, etc.. even though the
61.31 section clearly provides exception to it. For us it is simple. Get at
least a Private Pilot's license and you are golden, then just do what is common
sense and be safe.
Colin & Bev Rainey
KR2(td) N96TA
Sanford, FL
[email protected]
or [email protected]
http://kr-builder.org/Colin/index.html
