Confusion Plus [Archive] - AviationBanter

Stealth Pilot

March 6th 05, 06:40 AM

On Sun, 6 Mar 2005 13:34:49 +1100, "Kevin Berlyn"
> wrote:

>One for all you Aussie Homebuilders and or Ultralight pilots out there...
>
>I am building my own Homebuilt version of the Pioneer Flightstar/Fighter
>Ultralight combo single seater...
>
>Question is...
>Registration and certification...
>I notice that here in Australia we have the SAAA where homebuilt and
>experimental can be registered through, and we have the AUF/RAA where too I
>can register my craft ...
>Question is, which one of the two and why.

Australias regulations are a pox and there is no real sign of CASA
making any improvement like the canadians have.

what we have is two methods of registering an aircraft.

the ultralight registration operates as an exemption from the
mainstream rules for members of what used to be called the Ultralight
Aircraft Federation and has an upper size limit.
the regs have been moved to another section in the regulatory
framework and the name changed to whatever RAA decodes as.
under the ultralight mantle you can maintain your aircraft.
You cant fly into controlled airspace without prior written permission
but you have normal flying conditions in G airspace.

the other registration method is within the Experimental part of the
normal General Aviation regulations. SAAA beat on CASA's head long and
hard until (probably for reasons unrelated to the beating)
Experimental was made part of australian regulations.

ok without getting into any politics, as the builder of your aircraft
you could register it within either set of rules and be able to
maintain it yourself.
As an experimental amateurbuilt aircraft you would have a VH-xxx
registration. As an ultralight you will have a two number
registration. 10-1234, 28-1234 or something similar. first number
being the section of the rules you are working under and the second
the individual aircraft number.

operation under the ultralight exemptions is only available to
financial members of the Recreational Aviation Association.
(i remembered what RAA is)
you must remain a financial member regardless of your opinions of the
environment.

VH registration is free and there is no compulsion for you to be a
member of any association or group.
if you were not the builder you cant maintain the aircraft. This will
change hopefully with the introduction of AMS3 (approved maintainance
specialist type 3 ...specifically catering for owners who purchase
amateur built aircraft) but dont hold your breath. CASA have had this
almost ready for law now for 5 years. at present you need a LAME
signoff on the maintainance every year.
(my signoffs cost me $aus100 - 150 per annum but are a pain in the bum
to organise)

the free vs 'must be a member' stuff is really a Furphy. in either
environment the accident statistics are significantly lower for those
working within the information circulation of one of the associations
than for those strident individuals who go out and reinvent the wheel.
My advise is to join an association of fellow enthusiasts and be an
active participant so that the knowledge and understanding comes your
way, regardless of which registration stream you adopt. you'll be
safer for it.

there is no clear answer for which registration is best for you.
either experimental amateurbuilt or ultralight will both work almost
identically for you as the builder of a single seat aircraft.

keep asking questions until the answer for you becomes clearer.
Stealth Pilot
Australia.