Kit plane boom with Sport Plane rules

So, as I understand it, we are maybe a little over 60 days from the new
sport plane rules coming back from the OMB and hitting the federal
register and becoming 'the rules'.

Have I missed the discussion on 'professionally assembled' kits being
sold to the public? That is, as I understand it, to get an experimental
light sport airworthiness cert, you just have to prove that some plane
of the samee design has gotten a cert in the past and that the kit
directions were followed exactly during kit assembly. It no longer says
that you have to do 51% of the work, only that the design is good and
the constuction was 'by the book'. It sound like you could have a
'professional assembler' company build your kit 'by the book' and
provide you with photo documantation when they deliver your finished
plane. Show all that to the DAR and it sounds like you get your cert.

It also sounds like an assembled kit plane could roll out of a
'professional assembler' company with a cert already in place (special
light sport cert) if the plane design and assemly company follows the
industry guidlines (whenever the ASTM finishes them eh?).

Am I even close on any of this?

Dave

Dave wrote in news:i70Ub.31391$eY2.5805
@fe2.texas.rr.com:


So, as I understand it, we are maybe a little over 60 days from the new
sport plane rules coming back from the OMB and hitting the federal
register and becoming 'the rules'.

Have I missed the discussion on 'professionally assembled' kits being
sold to the public? That is, as I understand it, to get an experimental
light sport airworthiness cert, you just have to prove that some plane
of the samee design has gotten a cert in the past and that the kit
directions were followed exactly during kit assembly. It no longer says
that you have to do 51% of the work, only that the design is good and
the constuction was 'by the book'. It sound like you could have a
'professional assembler' company build your kit 'by the book' and
provide you with photo documantation when they deliver your finished
plane. Show all that to the DAR and it sounds like you get your cert.

It also sounds like an assembled kit plane could roll out of a
'professional assembler' company with a cert already in place (special
light sport cert) if the plane design and assemly company follows the
industry guidlines (whenever the ASTM finishes them eh?).

Am I even close on any of this?

Dave



From the research I have done that sounds mostly correct. The main
difference between the current 51% rule and sport planes pre-built to 90+
percent will be who gets to do the maintenance and at what level. If YOU
build 51% of the plane you get the mechanics certificate for that plane
and do not officially need a A&P EVER.... If you don't do any of the
work, I believe your in a whole new category.

If you build a LSA and do less than 50%-5% of the work, from the way I
understand it, you can only do various levels of maintenance if you have
completed 1 (16hr course) or 2(80 hr course) levels of mechanic training
on that airplane. The courses will get you a repairman certificate
(light-sport aircraft) with an inspection rating or with a maintenance
rating for that make and modal.

I've already seen at least one manufacturer offer the 16hr course to be
included with there 75%-95% kit.


--
ET

Future student pilot and future Sonex builder


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