Thanks Bob, Jim and Heather,
The article is very useful, many thanks for posting it. Great guidelines for
assessing
engine condition.
I was a little surprised that so few responses came in regarding overhauls,
given
that about 180 Europas are due for them, according to the Rotax 'book'. But
this might be encouraging, since other aviation authorities across the world
might have less issue with it than we have in Kenya.
In Kenya we have a very inflexible aviation authority, that now applies normal
Certificate of Airworthiness procedures (what you would call an FAA annual in
USA) to experimental planes. In spite of this thoroughness, there is a blanket
ban on experimentals leaving the country to fly abroad in the region, because
we might become un-airworthy once we have crossed the border.
Part of the problem is that there are few of us around, and we dont have a
unified
body to represent us, and to set our own guidelines that would be accepted
by the authority. Another part is that all forms of general aviation are seen
as a rich mans recreation, to be regulated into the ground, with fee structures
that literally double every year. I now have to pay USD 600/year as a blanket
amount for landing fees at major airfields, even if I operate only out of
farm strips. They wont give me a CofA unless I show that I have paid.
So we have to go through the same inspection procedures as certified aircraft
an impossible situation. Therefore, at annual inspection, they look at the
engine
log, and tell us that we have to abide by the book.
This approach affects everyone, we find that private Cessna owners will now have
to overhaul their Continentals every 12 years, regardless of hours flown,
because
there is a recommendation from Continental that this is done. Aah, everyone
points out, this is for engines on the commercial register, not private planes.
Doesnt matter, says the authority, even if you did just 50 hours/year,
and accumulated just 600 hours over the 12, it must come out and be stripped
down and overhauled (cost about USD 40,000). The owners of privately-registered
certified aircraft are obviously battling this one, and the jury is still out,
but this is what we have to deal with here.
Consequently, many owners of experimental aircraft, who keep them on outlying
wildlife
and cattle ranches and never come to the big airfields, have opted out,
meaning ... forget about annual inspections, just keep flying and away from
the authoritys eye.
Sounds like the on condition system elsewhere is so much better!!
All best
Richard
Kenya
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http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=367343#367343
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