Call and ask the examiner
frankh said:
Hi all,
My CFI suggested I ask the question.
I got a 7a with a Dynon EFIS, pictorial pilot, GNS 430 and no compass at the moment. ASI and Alt steam gauges.
He suggested I might have an issue with getting a checkride in my plane due to the partial panel requirement.
Personally I would assume the examiner will want to cover up the Dynon and thus I will simply need a compass assuming I can persuade an examiner to get into one of those homebuilt contraptions. (Pictorial pilot has a TC head).
Anyone have any issue getting an IFR check ride in an RV with glass panel?
Thanks
Frank
P.e flying an approach in cloud is way cool!...
Its a brave new world. You should get a hold of the examiner NOW. Call the Fizz-doha!
Talk to the FAA, they will not bite. They may not know but they will find out. They may also be wrong at first. If you are an EAA member you can write the leagle dept who deals with FAA issues.
Most important what the examiner says counts, its all wild guessing otherwise, but I think its OK.
Get PTS and read it. I took a quick look and all you have to be able to do is fly a non-precision approach and KNOW and explain all the factors involved in partial panel (see PTS).
I still have my CFII currency; my wild venture to a guess is failing the Dynon (Prime Flt Inst) and flying by the pitot/static and the "pictorial pilot" is fine; I assume the pic pilot is the TC look alike autopilot / display with track window.
As far as heading? Well with a GPS you have track. If the examiner wants you to fly a magnetic COMPASS "heading", than yes, you need a compass backup, but before you get a compass ask the DE. The pictorial pilot or the GPS displays track? Track is really better don't you agree.
I guess it comes down to required equip for IFR. I don't think there is NO need for back-up, non-electric, compass in an experimental, but that has been debated before.
VFR requires a "Magnetic direction indicator". The Dynon covers that.
IFR adds a "Gyroscopic direction indicator (directional gyro or equivalent)." The Dynon heading also covers this, so its both a mag direction and directional gyro equiv in one. Your Pictorial Pilot can be considered a Gyroscopic direction indicator (directional gyro or equivalent). It does not say magnetic heading. A track heading is a heading. There's no requirement for a magnetic heading backup.
However in the certified regs PART 23, they make a point of saying the mag compass MUST be non-electric, BUT we are experimental and that does NOT count.
So in a Piper or Cessna YOU must have a wet compass. In a RV you do not. That is true but misunderstood by even FAA and designated examiners and inspectors.
You may get an argument with a designate inspectors who says experimentals need a "wet compass", but I am 100% sure that's wrong and has been shown by the EAA with the FAA's concurrence. For IFR some may say you
should have some independant mag heading indicator. Again its experimental and we don't have back-up or NON-electric requirements like Part 23 planes do. To quote "Does NOT comply with Federal Safety regulations for standard aircraft regulations". It says so right on the instrument panel in plane view. That is the answer to everything, it's experimental.
Now the examiner may just say NO with no official reason. So go find one who will. I must admit I would be hesitent to fly an experimental in actual IMC I was not familure with.
As a CFII I just want to make sure you can fly wings level and hold a heading or track, either one, with LOSS OF PRIMARY FLIGHT INSTUMENT'(S). If you are all over the sky, compass or not, than it does not meet the standard.
Lets be totally honest, REAL partial panel in real IMC with an old steam gauge Cessna set up for example, with no GPS is marginal. I would rather your set-up with GPS track than a wet compass, which is pretty worthless unless you're straight and level and there's little or no turbulence. With mag dip, correction and jiggle of the wiggle, you where lucky to keep it level and heading with in 5 degrees. The PTS allows +/- 10 degrees I think, but you'll have a hard time flying an approach if that is the best you can do.
Check the PTS (practical test standards). Call and ask the FSDO. Even a Boeing 737/757/767/747 has a wet compass. On the B737 the wet compass folds up, hidden in the overhead; you never look at except may be check its still there and check the EFIS heading on the ground.