building as a business

[rjhecker]

Good evening AirForce,
I am a few days away from finishing my RV-10 empennage kit and while building, I have fallen in love with the process just as much as flying itself, and that got me thinking...

Have you or have you heard of a home builder starting a Limited Liability Company building parts for those that either don't have the desire to build again or maybe bought a plane already built and are in need of a section i.e.( rudder, VS, HS) to replace or maybe they got over their heads...

Just thinking out loud about ways to keep building in-between my own sections and further into the future.

Thanks,
Robert

[ColoRv]

Builders assistance is a common business. There are many available. Some of which, like Rick in here....build astonishing aircraft.

[rjhecker]

Originally Posted by ColoRv

Builders assistance is a common business. There are many available. Some of which, like Rick in here....build astonishing aircraft.

Great option thank you

[APACHE 56]

Originally Posted by rjhecker

Good evening AirForce,


Have you or have you heard of a home builder starting a Limited Liability Company building parts for those that either don't have the desire to build again or maybe bought a plane already built and are in need of a section i.e.( rudder, VS, HS) to replace or maybe they got over their heads...

Here's an example of a company just down the road from me:
http://www.2bumsaircraftinc.com/

[pierre smith]

Bear in mind the 51% rule. The builder has to show that he built at least 51% of the airplane, although it seems there are complete airplanes built for pay, albeit illegally.

Instrument panel assembly and wiring are common assistance features, as are gas tank building and other sub part manufacturing.

Best,

[airguy]

Originally Posted by pierre smith

Bear in mind the 51% rule. The builder has to show that he built at least 51% of the airplane

Correct me if I'm wrong (happens occasionally, I did get married 3 times) but isn't this actually 51% of the TASKS associated with building the airplane? Repetition of a learned task doesn't advance the task count? If you demonstrate that you can properly set a rivet, then someone else can set the next few hundred, etc?

[Sam Buchanan]

Originally Posted by pierre smith

Bear in mind the 51% rule. The builder has to show that he built at least 51% of the airplane, although it seems there are complete airplanes built for pay, albeit illegally.

Instrument panel assembly and wiring are common assistance features, as are gas tank building and other sub part manufacturing.

Best,

Just for clarification, the rule states the aircraft must be at least 51% built by amateur builder(s). The number of builders is not an issue, there can be as many as desired as long as they are not a commercial enterprise. The owner of the kit may complete as much or as little as he desires as long as the remainder of the 51% is amateur-built.

[lr172]

Originally Posted by Sam Buchanan

Just for clarification, the rule states the aircraft must be at least 51% built by amateur builder(s). The number of builders is not an issue, there can be as many as desired as long as they are not a commercial enterprise. The owner of the kit may complete as much or as little as he desires as long as the remainder of the 51% is amateur-built.

To add to this, an amateur builder can use commercial help/support and as long as they are in the presence of the support personnel at all times work is being done, this counts as the amateur built portion.

Larry

[Ironflight]

Originally Posted by lr172

To add to this, an amateur builder can use commercial help/support and as long as they are in the presence of the support personnel at all times work is being done, this counts as the amateur built portion.

Larry

Can you cite the official document that says that Larry? I have never read it anywhere.

No, you can't just set up a nice table and comfy chair in the back of a hangar and watch as someone builds your airplane, then sign the form saying you built it without perjuring yourself.

Yes, the very fast build "two weeks to taxi" programs take advantage of the wording that you must complete 51% of the TASKS listed on the FAA checklist - so when it says "rivet a wing skin", you only have to do one, then you can let the shop do the rest.

[lr172]

Originally Posted by Ironflight

Can you cite the official document that says that Larry? I have never read it anywhere.

No, you can't just set up a nice table and comfy chair in the back of a hangar and watch as someone builds your airplane, then sign the form saying you built it without perjuring yourself.

Yes, the very fast build "two weeks to taxi" programs take advantage of the wording that you must complete 51% of the TASKS listed on the FAA checklist - so when it says "rivet a wing skin", you only have to do one, then you can let the shop do the rest.

I'll try to find it and post. I bought a partially completed kit and did a lot of research to be sure that I would be in compliance. The regs made logical sense. If you don't really know what your doing, the FAA doesn't want to put regs in place that will keep you from getting the support you need.

EDIT: I am struggling to find it. To be clear, I was not talking about "Commercial Assistance" that the FAA defines as contracting out the work to someone else. This was related to having a professional help you for compensation. The language was clear that the builder must be present at all times, but that it was OK for the work to be performed by the paid assistant. This probably fell under the Educational assistance clause. I'll keep looking.

Larry