Weird Experimental Certificate wording - Normal?

Mark,
The paper work we have is a direct result of an accident where the
pilot of an experimental (exhibition & racing) licenced F-86, didn't
want to use the fuel it would take to taxi to the long runway, so he
used the short runway, went off the end, through a fence, across
Freeport Blvd and came to rest in an ice cream parlor, full of kids. A
gigantic hue and cry was heard, "Let's shut down these nuts flying
those EXPERIMENTAL things". I don't mind sending in a couple of program
letters, if it means we can continue to fly our birds.
JJ


Mark Zivley wrote:
Look at what JJ submitted for his program letter. It's great that
he's
not tied to anything, but it really doesn't say anything of value.
My
point is why not eliminate the paperwork. I'm not trying to rock the

boat, but what practical information did the FAA get and they could
have
elminated the hassle of receiving the letter and we'd not have to
submit
them.

Michael McNulty wrote:

"Mark Zivley" wrote in message
om...

Sure would be nice if the SSA could lobby the FAA to eliminate the
requirement for program letters for gliders that are factory built,
if not
all experimental gliders.

Enlighten me please, what's the point beyond "it's just the rule,
dumb..."
or "it's always been this way" or etc.


The "Experimental" certification that most US gliders have is
explicitly,
for the purpose of "Exhibition and Racing". Given this fact, it
seems
reasonable to me that the FAA might ask us to substantiate that
this is in
fact what we are doing with these aircraft. (Remember, we never
go for
"pleasure flights" in these aircraft; we are maintaining
proficiency for our
exhibition and racing activities).

Given that the annual program letter takes about five minutes to
prepare and
send in, I think that we've got the best side in this deal. Please
don't
rock the boat; if the FAA really wants to cut down on their
workload, my
fear is that they could eliminate the "Experimental, Exhibition and
Racing"
category altogether. Those who really object to the program letter
can
always buy an aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate.

By the way, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, I don't think that

homebuilts (Experimental, Amateur Built airworthiness) have a
program letter
requirement. They do have other restrictions, however.

Also, thanks for reminding me to submit my 2005 program letter.

This will be my last post on this. Letters are not that big of a
hassle. Let's face it, they provide no tangible value and a program
letter will not prevent the kind of accident you described.

If someone builds a home-built then yes, I can see that it might be nice
if they crash within 20nm of their home airport, but for factory built
gliders the accident rate is almost entirely pilot error.

Anyway, it would sure be nice if the SSA could eliminate program letters
for factory built gliders. Nuf said.

Mark

"Mark Zivley" wrote in message
. com...
This will be my last post on this. Letters are not that big of a hassle.
Let's face it, they provide no tangible value and a program letter will
not prevent the kind of accident you described.

If someone builds a home-built then yes, I can see that it might be nice
if they crash within 20nm of their home airport, but for factory built
gliders the accident rate is almost entirely pilot error.

Anyway, it would sure be nice if the SSA could eliminate program letters
for factory built gliders. Nuf said.

Mark


Mark.

Yes it would be nice if that could happen, but I don't see it happening.
The issue is this. You cannot operate an aircraft without an airworthiness
certificate.
You do not qualify for amatuer built/experimental for obvious reasons.
It wasn't certified in the US by the manufacturer, so the powers that be
created
experimental/exhibition&racing. At the time the law was created, sailplanes
were a very small blip
on the radar and program letters were read very closely if you were
operating a warbird,
primarily jets. The Fresno incident just about killed non-certified
aircraft op's in the country.
They are a bit of a hassle, but are necessary because of the class the
aircraft operates under.
Until the classification requirements change, the program letter is the only
thing that allows you to fly.

Scott.

We (SSA) already enjoy quite a few privileges and exemptions that power
pilots don't get. We do have some clout with the FAA, but lets not
spend it on meaningless issues. The FAR's have been written in our
favor or exemtions granted in the following areas:
+ We don't need:
Radios
Transponders
ELT's
Medicals
+ We have:
Experimental licence that allows us to:
Build & inspect our own sailplanes.
Fly factory built ships (no US type Cert)
Assemble & disassemble without sign-off.

My recommendation is to just mail in the program letter each year (the
simple one I posted works just fine). Sure it doesn't say anything, but
lets save our political muscle for really important things. If we keep
asking for meaningless things, the FAA may start to think of us as,
"Those snively glider pukes, whining about nothing again".
:) JJ