New Special Airworthiness Cert -- what goes into it?

On Mar 22, 10:00*am, Tuno wrote:
From the Designated Airworthiness Representative's perspective, just
what goes into getting a new Special Airworthiness Certificate,
Experimental Exhibition/Racing, for a glider?

These are insane stories.

A friend wanted to get a Danish registered K-8 re-registered in the
US. A DAR told him it would cost $1800, which is more than the glider
cost, imported!

He got a friend of a friend who worked at the FAA in Reno to do the
job (less the airworthiness inspection and W&B) for just the paperwork
costs.

When I brought in a French registered LS-1, I had the same guy do the
job and it cost me just the paperwork costs (not including the
inspection).

All we needed was to get our ducks in a row first, do the paperwork,
have an AI do an airworthiness inspect & do a W&B, take the gliders to
Reno from Tehachapi, and Bob's your uncle.

It is not brain surgery. A trained monkey can do the job.

DARs are a racket. They are retired FAA inspectors. You are not a
retired FAA inspector? You can't be a DAR. It is a license for
retired FAA inspectors to print money.


I spoke with a DAR in Phoenix yesterday and explained to him that I
have a brand new glider, now registered with the FAA, it has a factory
flight test and Export C of A from Germany, and I need the C of A
described above. He told me that because it was *experimental*, there
was a whole lot more work for him to do, a lot of information
gathering and paperwork, and it would cost $650, instead of the $200
he first quoted for a standard C of A.

I thought this would be a simple inspection and a little paperwork,
not more than 1 or 2 hours of their time. What am I missing? (Or, what
are they missing?)

~ted/2NO

On Mar 22, 3:59*pm, raulb wrote:

DARs are a racket. *They are retired FAA inspectors. *You are not a
retired FAA inspector? *You can't be a DAR. *It is a license for
retired FAA inspectors to print money.

Can you substantiate any of that?

A simple web search for DAR qualification requirements seems to
indicate that experience as an FAA inspector is just one of several
qualifying experience requirements.


Andy

Can you substantiate any of that?

I can!

I have now spoken with 4 DARs in Arizona. All of them are retired FAA
inspectors. The lowest quote I got was $450 plus expenses. For what
should be an hour or two of work.

Bending over and grabbing the ankles,

2NO (somewhere on I-10 east of Willcox, Gollywomper II in tow)

On Mar 25, 1:04�pm, Tuno wrote:
Can you substantiate any of that?

I can!

I have now spoken with 4 DARs in Arizona. All of them are retired FAA
inspectors. The lowest quote I got was $450 plus expenses. For what
should be an hour or two of work.

Bending over and grabbing the ankles,

2NO (somewhere on I-10 east of Willcox, Gollywomper II in tow)

Ted, my 29 ran me $500 thur a DAR from El Paso who drove up to
Alamogordo to do it. He's not retired from the FAA either, as he's in
his late 20's. Chris used the same DAR from El Paso who charged him I
believe $750 for his new D2b.
My 27 in 02 ran me $250 and he was retired from Delta and a DAR.
All of them wanted the plane assembled and did look it over. It took
around 3 hrs and maybe closer to 4 hrs for everything to be done. The
29 has several pages of limitations and also I had to fly it in the
local area for 3 flights and 10 hrs. before I could go Hobbs for the
18 Meter Nationals in 06. Considering the cost of a new 29 and the
bucks you have to make to get one, I think the charges are within
reason.
Most important thing is get one lined up now so you don't get trapped
and not be able to fly it this summer.
If I can offer anymore help, email me and lets talk.
Regards, # 711.