Vol. 1, No.3 - August 2008

Speaking of Oshkosh, we'll lead off the August issue with a recap of the aircraft awards won by our fellow Canadians.

- Jack Dueck, Editor

OUTSTANDING WORKMANSHIP KIT BUILT
C-FCOX; a sporty RV-7 crafted by Chris and Rosie (the Riveter) Cox, of Delta, BC. (You have seen this aircraft before - in the July 2008 newsletter).

BRONZE LINDY
KIT BUILT
C-FGJQ; a gorgeous Glasair Super II RG built by Paul Connor and Jim Hannibal, of Qualicum Beach, BC.

BRONZE LINDY
PLANS BUILT
C-FRFY; a beautifully crafted Nexus Mustang built by Richard Eaves, of London, ON.

In mid-July, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a new policy for administering and enforcing the 51 percent rule for amateur-built aircraft. That made for plenty of spirited discussion during the recent AirVenture Oshkosh. On Tuesday that week John Hickey, FAA Director of  Aircraft Certification, and Frank Paskiewicz (pictured at right), FAA Manager of the Production and Airworthiness Division, discussed the proposed new policy and the reasoning behind it at a lively public forum attended by close to 200 people.

In the USA, the amateur-built aircraft category allows its citizens to 'design, build and fly' their own aircraft so long as the builder does so solely for his or her "education or recreation." In addition, the amateur builder must build the major portion of the aircraft. This is commonly known as the "51% rule." Commercial builder assistance for financial compensation is allowed, but only if the builder still completes 51% of the fabrication and assembly tasks.  Read more

Note: Canadian amateur-built aircraft rules and regulations differ from the U.S.. We are, nevertheless, interested and conscious of our neighbors and their rights and privileges, since they indirectly affect us. For example, if a Canadian builder wishes to sell an amateur-built aircraft to an American citizen, it will be required to meet any FAA policy in force.

This story starts with an e-mail addressed to the EAA Oshkosh headquarters staff; "Do you have any recognition for attendance records at Oshkosh?"

"No, we really have no way set up for tracking attendances," was the reply received.

"Well, John Blackner will be attending his 40th consecutive Oshkosh convention this year, and a bunch of his buddies out here at Lyncrest airpark wanted like to recognize this achievement if it could be done this year at Oshkosh."

Lyncrest Airport, at the southeast corner of Winnipeg, MB, is a pilot's dream. Two grass turf runways, about 48 private aircraft hangars, and about 110 members, who control the operations of the airport, and pay only a municipal tax, (no fees, no rent on hangars that each owns privately).  Read more

So reads in part an e-mail received from Abe De Jagger of Chilliwack, BC.

The new chapter's slate of executives will be: De Jagger, President; Ken Cos, Vice President; Dan Bauman, Secretary; and Jeff McMurrer, Treasurer.

Congratulations! We wish you every success in the launch of your new EAA Chapter.
-Jack Dueck, Editor

On a small private airfield some 15 miles outside of a prairie centre, two Transport Canada inspectors drove up and asked to see the documents pertaining to an antique bi-plane certificated as an amateur-built. The owner had the appropriate documents neatly secured in a provisional package, and all was well.

I have also learned that aircraft returning from EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this year were being similarly checked at 'point of entry' airports as they cleared customs upon arriving back in Canada.

Note that such checks are all perfectly in order and provided for by Transport Canada Rules and Regulations.

So to be safe, ensure that you have all the required documents on board; that your aircraft is legal; for example, is the appropriate passenger warning decal in both official languages clearly visible to any passenger, and does your logbook show that you are current?

• Certificate of Registration
• Certificate of Airworthiness with operating limitations
• Journey Log (current annual)
• Insurance Certificate
• Aircraft Flight Manual (Pilot Operating Handbook)
• Pilot License
• Current Medical
• ELT (Current check and battery/s)
• Fire Extinguisher (Current tag)
• First Aid Kit
• Current Charts and Canadian Flight Supplement (if flying or going flying)