Does anyone have recent experience with Transport Canada turn around time from final inspection completion to C of A being issued?
I don't think Transport gets involved until the 25 hrs are flown off. Then you apply and pay TC for the final C of A and they remove the restrictions.
My MDRA inspector told me to send in my application for registration 6 months ahead of my estimated final inspection date to avoid delays in getting flight authority.
Problem with that is you need to send in a picture of your "completed" plane with the registration. I sent mine in as soon as I had the wings on. I had it ready to fly in about 3-4 weeks after that, my registration took 6 weeks beyond that. Talk about a painful wait.
Actually that is not correct. The registration can be done anytime and doesn't require a picture or the airplane completed. The INITIAL APPLICATION FOR
A SPECIAL CERTIFICATE OF AIRWORTHINESS FOR AMATEUR-BUILT AIRCRAFT does requires the picture and cannot be submitted until the final inspection is completed.
I just went through the process and had great service from the MDRA.
3/4 side view photo of the completed aircraft showing registration marks affixed.
Well that had me going over why I submitted a picture. The answer is we're both right. 3 years ago I sent my request for final inspection to MD-RA as was (and still is) required before applying for the C of R. The FINAL INSPECTION NOTICE that I got in response included the document C16E PROCEDURE TO OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION PRIOR TO FINAL/IMPORT INSPECTION. This document included the following requirement.
Here's the rub, that document I got was the 20151005 version. The current version of that document is 20200923 and it no longer includes this requirement.
So you are correct, this is no longer a requirement. It was for me and I'm glad to see that it was removed.