I attended an EAA workshop and took the 16-hour, two-day course that is required in order to get an LSA Repairmans Certificate so I could do the annual condition inspection on the RV-12. When I finished my RV6A 16-years ago I just filled out a form and mailed it to the FAA, and got the certificate in a few days.
Today things are different. After driving 4-hours to get to the DEN airport area, I spent about 45-minutes driving around in the complex frontage and service roads at the Denver International airport trying to find the FSDO, and had to ask several people where the FAA Flight Standards Office was. The most articulate and accurate response I got was from a local pilot who worked for a charter outfit. He said, "Oh they really hide themselves."
I finally found a guard shack in front of a large unmarked building way out on the eastern Colorado prairie well away from the airport. Two uniformed guards came out and directed me. I parked and walked up to a door. It was locked. Inside I could see two uniformed guards. Finally one pushed a button and the door unlocked. I had to sign in, provide photo ID, phone number, state my business, and was told to wait until someone "came down for me."
I ended up with a large VISITOR tag attached to me, and in the company of three FAA Inspectors. I gave them copies of my AW certificate, my aircraft registration, a copy of my operating limitations, "diploma" from the EAA course and waited. Things went well until they began examining the operating limitations. I showed them my log where the Phase 1 completion entry was made, they they wanted to know where the Phase 2 operating limitations was. I explained that all the restrictions for Phase 2 are in the material I gave them; but they were concerned about when Phase 2 would expire. I explined that it didn't expire. Someone got out an FAA manual and study began. They looked, and looked, and hem'ed and haw'ed, and finally disappeared, leaving one Inspector with me to complete the paperwork.
They were friendly but obviously didn't have a good grip on ELSA.
While they were debating, I asked where the men's room was. A woman at the desk said she would have to go with me. I could not move by myself.
I thought maybe she'd hold my hand, but she decided to remain just outside the door until my job was done.
I got the Repairman Certificate, but these nice folks are still struggling with the Administration's tangle of regulations.
When done, I had to be accompanied down to the front door before I could proceed alone.
What a mish-mash !
Today things are different. After driving 4-hours to get to the DEN airport area, I spent about 45-minutes driving around in the complex frontage and service roads at the Denver International airport trying to find the FSDO, and had to ask several people where the FAA Flight Standards Office was. The most articulate and accurate response I got was from a local pilot who worked for a charter outfit. He said, "Oh they really hide themselves."
I finally found a guard shack in front of a large unmarked building way out on the eastern Colorado prairie well away from the airport. Two uniformed guards came out and directed me. I parked and walked up to a door. It was locked. Inside I could see two uniformed guards. Finally one pushed a button and the door unlocked. I had to sign in, provide photo ID, phone number, state my business, and was told to wait until someone "came down for me."
I ended up with a large VISITOR tag attached to me, and in the company of three FAA Inspectors. I gave them copies of my AW certificate, my aircraft registration, a copy of my operating limitations, "diploma" from the EAA course and waited. Things went well until they began examining the operating limitations. I showed them my log where the Phase 1 completion entry was made, they they wanted to know where the Phase 2 operating limitations was. I explained that all the restrictions for Phase 2 are in the material I gave them; but they were concerned about when Phase 2 would expire. I explined that it didn't expire. Someone got out an FAA manual and study began. They looked, and looked, and hem'ed and haw'ed, and finally disappeared, leaving one Inspector with me to complete the paperwork.
They were friendly but obviously didn't have a good grip on ELSA.
While they were debating, I asked where the men's room was. A woman at the desk said she would have to go with me. I could not move by myself.
I thought maybe she'd hold my hand, but she decided to remain just outside the door until my job was done.
I got the Repairman Certificate, but these nice folks are still struggling with the Administration's tangle of regulations.
When done, I had to be accompanied down to the front door before I could proceed alone.
What a mish-mash !