On Aug 25, 10:39*am, Tony wrote:
On Aug 25, 11:22*am, "Bob McKellar" wrote:

The FAA has just issued a new AD grounding Blaniks until they can be
inspected using a new procedure. *Unfortunately, this new procedure does not
exist.

Bob McKellar

as odd as it sounds i think this is a step in the right direction.
they got rid of the truly crippling time reporting requirement. *it
also appears they will allow operators to submit an "alternate means
of compliance" for them to review and if that is deemed OK then the
gliders can be returned to service. *what this means to me, the way i
read it, is that concerned operators could develop a procedure for
using non destructive evaluation which is common for finding cracks in
metal structure like this, get it approved, inspect, and fly. *once
one operator gets the AMOC approved anyone else (in the US) could use
the same method.

The new A/D number is 2010-18-05. Hopefully this link will work
http://bit.ly/9J7qoa

It seems to just make sense. What else could the FAA do if it was
clearly impossible for anybody to comply with the acro time reporting
component. So good news is they've just said they are not going to use
that. Seperate from that the inspection as is seems to have issues
(including use of dye penetrant mentioned on r.a.s. to check suspected
cracks - while that seems logical to do on a suspected crack it was
not in any of the ADs and I could imaging the FAA might have concerns
with that). As far as it goes the alternate means of compliance
wording is likely there because it is standard boilerplate.

Darryl