Do you have a compass in your cockpit?

[RV7A Flyer]

Originally Posted by sblack

That DAR mentioned earlier is basically demanding a higher level of reliability for heading information (2 efis and a whisky compass) than he is for the engine...

He's actually demanding compliance to a requirement which doesn't exist...he's making up his own.

For the life of me I do not understand the seemingly arbitrary "rules" people keep running into during inspections. The FAR is quite clearly stated...91.205 says "magnetic direction indicator". Let's see...a magnetometer senses the direction, and it's indicated on the screen. It's magnetic, and it indicates direction.

Requiring an additional "wet compass" is going beyond the FARs.

[Richard Connell]

In AUS, if you are VFR and Experimental or LSA, then an EFIS will suffice.
This is a recent-ish change so sounds similar to the impending Canadian changes.
My understanding is that this came about because we were importing LSA's that didn't come with a mechanical compass, but obviously the original certifying country (USA) thought this was OK.

No battery backup requirement for Day VFR, but 90min standby requirement for NVFR.

Ive not looked at the whiskey compass much at all in 5y - but I probably wouldn't pull it out even if I could now.

[Aden Rich]

I believe a WHISKEY compass is still required equipment for a VFR airplane. A direction finder NOT reliant upon power.......
Someone insert the FAR's here..........
I would not fly without one. I cross check it all the time against the GPS for reference. I work around electronics all day long in my Paper Mill. I am amazed at the issues that pop up from electrons not flowing in the right direction.
When the lights go out......and fly long enough they will, a compass could save your bacon.
Ask John Travolta about his totally glass panel in his Gulfstream going out at night.....backups too.....!!! Pucker factor and then some.

[RV7A Flyer]

Originally Posted by Aden Rich

I believe a WHISKEY compass is still required equipment for a VFR airplane. A direction finder NOT reliant upon power.......
Someone insert the FAR's here..........

No, it is NOT. I quoted the FAR for you above. It says "magnetic direction indicator". That's all. It doesn't say anything about power, or no power, or anything else.

I would not fly without one. I cross check it all the time against the GPS for reference. I work around electronics all day long in my Paper Mill. I am amazed at the issues that pop up from electrons not flowing in the right direction.

That would be a choice you can make. But it doesn't mean they're required.

[Mel]

Originally Posted by RV7A Flyer

No, it is NOT. I quoted the FAR for you above. It says "magnetic direction indicator". That's all. It doesn't say anything about power, or no power, or anything else.
That would be a choice you can make. But it doesn't mean they're required.

This is correct in the USA.

[Aden Rich]

I love it when an inspector tells you all of these great rules.
On my last airplane, I even had to fill in the card for magnetic variation for the whiskey compass that I was told was required for VFR flight.
I guess I will put that one under an MSU rule:
Making S--t up. Sometimes I wonder how these guys can site these rules.
My last experience with the FEDs was at a fly in. I was going to fly the sky divers for the show. It was all personal donation. There was no money involved at all with the flight and I had dropped these guys many times before over the airport. The day of the flight, I was told I could not drop the divers since I was not commercially rated. We told him there was not any compensation for me or the owner of the plane. He told us that experience I got from flying these guys was the compensation.......
Since my friend who owned the plane was recently hired by the FAA, he was on his probation. He did not want to make any waves so we let it go. He ended up flying the plane.
My question is this. Does anyone ever sue these guys for falsifying the rules. My friend said that he was told by his supervisors that the FAA will back you up as long as you are citing the FAR's. IF you go outside the regs, you could be held personally liable if there is any damages resulting from your instructions.

[Sam Buchanan]

Originally Posted by Mel

This is correct in the USA.

Mel, do the latest EAB Op Lims still specify that flight instruments are not required per 91.205 for day VFR? I poked around on the FAA's site and kept running into outdated links.

[Mel]

Originally Posted by Sam Buchanan

Mel, do the latest EAB Op Lims still specify that flight instruments are not required per 91.205 for day VFR? I poked around on the FAA's site and kept running into outdated links.

Part 91.205 only applies to EAB for night and/or IFR operations by Operating Limitations.

[skylor]

Originally Posted by RV7A Flyer

He's actually demanding compliance to a requirement which doesn't exist...he's making up his own.

For the life of me I do not understand the seemingly arbitrary "rules" people keep running into during inspections. The FAR is quite clearly stated...91.205 says "magnetic direction indicator". Let's see...a magnetometer senses the direction, and it's indicated on the screen. It's magnetic, and it indicates direction.

Requiring an additional "wet compass" is going beyond the FARs.

SBLACK is from Canada where different regs apply.

Skylor
RV-8

[RV7A Flyer]

Originally Posted by skylor

SBLACK is from Canada where different regs apply.

Skylor
RV-8

Yes, I know, but we were talking about a DAR in Colorado who required a wet compass. My other response was to a poster in Washington.

I know other countries have different regs, I'm only talking about US rules.