USA Glider Experimental Airworthiness Certificate

When your DAR issues your Special Airworthiness Certificate, it will
have your operating limitations attached. Para 37 will be the
requirement for the annual program letter and amendments. The program
letter only takes effect after Phase I compliance with 91.319(b) and
the appropriate logbook entry. Section 10 of FAA Order 8130.2F w/chg 1
establishes the Experimental Exhibition and Air Racing Special
Airworthiness Certification Operating Limitations. You can read or
download a copy from http://tinyurl.com/8fxtg FWIW, Denver FSDO now
has a 'form' program letter. Just fill in the blanks.

If the glider is not amateur-built, Exhibition and Air Racing is really
the only other useful category. Light Sport Aircraft is too
restrictive for soaring, though a few gliders could fit. Gliders are
Group I and don't fit in a lot of other categories.

Program letters can be amended in writing, including FAX, a minimum of
24 hours before operating. What's not entirely clear regarding program
letters is cancellation of events. Say you include that you are flying
in Region X Sports Class from July 15th - July 25th at ABC airport.
You decide not to go or the competition is cancelled. So, July 20th
you are flying at your home base of opertions. Are you required to
amend your program letter to drop the cancelled comp? Sample program
letters would indicate yes. In practice, I doubt many in the soaring
community actually cancel.

Exhibition and Air Racing also involves flights to gain and maintain
proficiency. That's a lifetime of soaring to most of us.

Frank Whiteley

Chris:
The program letter is normal. I echo Marc's comments. Also adding
that your local FSDO would prefer that it is registered with them, not
the FSDO near to whoever first registered the aircraft.
Below is my program letter, filed once at the time I got a new EXP
certificate. It included a color photograph and 3-view drawing of the
glider, which the airworthiness officer at my FSDO asked for. The
program letter is of the KISS variety.
My local FSDO has some great people. I understand they're not all as
pilot-friendly elsewhere. And most DARs seem to be more strict with
rule interpretation.
The reason for changing my certificate was that the specified FSDO to
receive an annual program letter no longer existed.
Jim

This aircraft is to be flown for exhibition, racing, and for
accomplishment of FAI and SSA badges, awards, and diplomas.
Flights shall be made throughout the United States.
An estimate (from prior years) of approximately forty flights and one
hundred hours per year shall be flown. This includes proficiency
flights.
Attached is a 3-view drawing from the flight manual.