I sent this last week, but I botched my new subscription request so I could receive, but could not send to the list. Hopefully it will make it through this time.
I went through both of these questions also. What you need to do to fly at night is defined by your operating limitations. Mine said "unless appropriately equipped for night and/or IFR operations...day VFR only". I asked the FSDO and EAA and both concured that I just needed to add the lights and make a logbook entry that I had appropriately equipped the plane for night operations. If you are getting the limitations for the first time be sure that the inspector puts in the "unless" clause instead of just writing your limitations for VFR day only. I believe that this is normally what they do, but each inspector is different and if you don't catch it and have it fixed you will have trouble getting them changed later. I also asked about increasing weight on my plane that already had the operating limitations and the gross weight established. I spoke to two different people at the FSDO and they referred me to someone at the MIDO in Atlanta that didn't really know either. I called the EAA tech line and they told me that for a homebuilt on its initial test flying you need to test fly it up to the gross weight that you want established. On an existing plane that you want to increase the weight on you do it like making a major alteration by notifying the FSDO and getting a 5 hour test period where you test up to the new gross weight. I called back the person at the MIDO and she concured with their opinion. I sent a letter to the FSDO and they concured also. The interresting thing is that neither the MIDO or FSDO could come up with the answer themselves, but they agreed to what I told them that I thought the answer was. One thing that I am fairly certain on is that you can't just pick a gross weight out of the air and not actually test fly the plane at that weight during the test phase without passengers and enter in the logbook that you tested at that weight. You do need to put the weight you tested the plane at in the logbook after you finish the test phase. If you only test to 900 pounds then you have an accident someday at 1,200 pounds you are going to be in trouble no matter what you show as your gross weight. ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "Mark Langford" <n5...@hiwaay.net> Reply-To: KRnet <kr...@mylist.net> List-Post: krnet@list.krnet.org Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 12:31:56 -0600 >NetHeads, > >A few weeks ago I reported that my FSDO had told me that if I wanted to fly >my plane with no nav lights, and then add them later, I'd have to have the >DAR reinspect the plane and sign it off again. That was despite reports on >the web that it was simply a builder signoff once the DAR had done his >initial inspection without them. I just called the DAR, and he said indeed >it WAS merely a signoff, and that he (nor the FAA) has anything to do with >it. Looks like my plane will fly its first season with no nav lights or >strobes. > >I also asked him about setting a higher gross weight, and he said that I, as >the builder, can set it to whatever I want, and that'll be what it's listed >as in the registration database. > >I think I'm gonna like this guy. Very helpful, friendly, and he only >charges $200, and 34 cents a mile travel... > >Mark Langford, Huntsville, AL >N56ML at hiwaay.net >see KR2S project N56ML at http://home.hiwaay.net/~langford > > >_______________________________________ >to UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@mylist.net >please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html >
