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  #1  
Old 07-19-2013, 12:07 PM
MeGiron MeGiron is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 81
Lightbulb OSH: Phase I flight test and Transition Training

Just wanted to put a separate note out there to all who will be at OSH this year. For those who don' t know yet know me, I work at the FAA HQ in Washington DC and write policy for Experimental-Amateur Built (E-AB) aircraft operations. I've also handled a whole slew of other things ranging from NextGen, ADS-B and HUDs to VFR safety over the Hudson. I also have an RV-6 and rely on all of you daily to help me overcome the hurdles encountered. I'm hoping I can rely on you all one more time. Here's how.

The focus this year is two-fold:
1. Looking at allowing two pilots on board during Phase I flight test, and
2. Transition training including obtaining a LODA.

I have a bunch of meetings with industry groups this year to discuss this stuff in detail. I also have a plan for what we are looking at proposing. I'm very close to a final product, but I NEED YOUR INPUT. I ask that you try to attend these two forums if you can:

MONDAY 1:00pm: EAA Welcome Center, First Flight & Transition - A panel discussion about the importance of first flight and transition training. Presented by: Charlie Precourt. Charlie and EAA have agreed to allow me time to conduct a "show of hands" survey on some critical issues involving FAA decisions on adding a second pilot. Questions like if, when, and who is qualified. Here's a chance to make a difference. EAA said they'd give me a brief amount of time to conduct the survey, so I won't have long. That's where the next forum comes in.

MONDAY 4:00-5:15PM: (Pavilion 8 NATCA) FAA proposal for two pilots on board during Phase I flight test, How to get an LODA, and what we're looking at changing with the LODA. I will share with everyone how we propose to do this, and new privileges to LODA holders and transition training seekers. This will be a much more open, back and forth, audience participation type forum. I want to hear what you have to say. Which brings me to this.

I will also be at the RV-Social and would like to hear from you all there. Please come over and talk it up with me. I'd like to get a broad base of what the 'users' think.

I know that these times are not perfect. We have almost no control over the times, nor the places. We get what we get. Please understand that. I know the frustrations encountered with the FAA, especially this year, with issues over paying for controllers. I will leave that conversation to those smarter and higher ranking than I. I am just fortunate enough to be one of two folks authorized to travel (on my own dime in my RV-6) to support the experimental crowd this year.
Thanks for your input in advance. I hope you all have a safe trip out and see you at Oshkosh!
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  #2  
Old 07-19-2013, 12:22 PM
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Mike S Mike S is offline
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Mark, great of you to post this, hope you get a lot of input at OSH, as well as here at VAF.

My $.02------a second pilot who is qualified in type is a big plus in the safety arena. As to LODA and transition training, big no brainer here------another big plus in safety.

With all the hats you wear at work, is there anything you can do to move the EAA/APOA proposal concerning the revision to the medical requirements along??

Thanks for being here on VAF----we need folks like you aboard.
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  #3  
Old 07-19-2013, 12:33 PM
MeGiron MeGiron is offline
 
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Location: Washington, DC
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Thanks, Mike!

Quote:
a second pilot who is qualified in type is a big plus
Hit the nail on the head. That's one of the last things we're trying to define..."Qualified"

Quote:
With all the hats you wear at work, is there anything you can do to move the EAA/APOA proposal concerning the revision to the medical requirements along??
I'll answer with lyrics derived from MC Hammer... Can't touch this.
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  #4  
Old 07-19-2013, 12:40 PM
BobTurner BobTurner is offline
 
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Location: Livermore, CA
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Hi Mark,

We've talked before about this, I'll just say that nothing has changed in the last year: For the casual (5 - 20 hours per year dual given) transition trainer, the cost of insurance remains high. High enough, for me, that it does not make business sense.

Bob
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Old 07-19-2013, 12:55 PM
Paul K Paul K is offline
 
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI
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I will try to make it! I just finished Phase One and would very much like to talk to you about the process.

I took transition training in a barrowed plane with a CFI who happened to have a lot of hours in that plane. That was very helpful for flying the new plane.

However, I built the most technologically advanced panel I have ever seen and I could have benefited from having a specialist fly with me for the last 25 hrs to try and adjust and calibrate everything. To be honest, most of the last 25 hrs was just buring gas to get the hours off. Almost every flight after that has been with another pilot or someone with special skill to finally get everything "fixed". Most of Phase One was a total waist of time that could have been very productive! I don't need to learn how to fly, I already know how to fly. What I desperately needed during Phase One was to learn how to run the panel and make everything play together and do it correctly!

I totall agree that the one person rule is totally unnecessary and in fact may be dangerous. I second set of experianced eyes and ears could really save the day in those first few hours!

Lets talk.
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  #6  
Old 07-19-2013, 01:05 PM
MeGiron MeGiron is offline
 
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Quote:
High enough, for me, that it does not make business sense.
Bob, you're right. What if you had the authorization to do more "stuff" like endorsements, etc.?

Clearly the cost of insurance and the inability to sustain business leads to the need of another form of training. 2 on board during phase I, perhaps.

Quote:
I could have benefited from having a specialist fly with me for the last 25 hrs to try and adjust and calibrate everything.
Paul, if you can make only one, the 4pm session might just address every point you made.
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  #7  
Old 07-19-2013, 01:26 PM
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hydroguy2 hydroguy2 is offline
 
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Is there a way that those of us who are unable to attend, to raise our hand in support or opposition to these topics? or any other input method?
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  #8  
Old 07-19-2013, 01:34 PM
MeGiron MeGiron is offline
 
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Quote:
Is there a way that those of us who are unable to attend, to raise our hand in support or opposition to these topics?
Great question. Yes. After OSH, I'll post some results and look at creating polls on VAF to finish off the study.
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  #9  
Old 07-19-2013, 02:37 PM
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rleffler rleffler is offline
 
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Unfortunately, I'm unable to attend OSH this year.

One topic I know that has been debated here extensively is whether or not a 2nd pilot should be used as a safety pilot during phase I to wring out a technically advanced panel.

I agree with many that the first 25 of phase I should focus on the airframe and gathering all the pertinent flight data.

I think it would be nice to have a second pilot on board for certain phases of testing
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  #10  
Old 07-19-2013, 03:00 PM
Rupester Rupester is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rleffler View Post
I agree with many that the first 25 of phase I should focus on the airframe and gathering all the pertinent flight data.

I think it would be nice to have a second pilot on board for certain phases of testing
Agree completely. There were several times it would have been very advantageous to have a second set of trained eyes in the cockpit with me.
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