Microlighters

Hi,

To avoid hijacking the other interesting thread. My 4 "Gripes" already communicated to MISASA are -

Skills Test

The Skills Test System is flawed in that it is not capped in terms of Total Time, Time on Type and Hours Flown last 12 Months. I don't care if the cap is set at 1000 or 2000 hours - just set a limit / cut-off.

Rated Test Pilot

Another piece of BS is a test flight by a Rated Test Pilot after all / any maintenance. Now consider that I fix a puncture on my GT450 - who the heck is the Rated Test Pilot?

Yet, I can pack up my trike and tow it away on holiday.

Remember, a Rated Test Pilot is not an "Open Rating".

Owner Maintenance

Owner maintenance - in - out - in - out - in (I think) - "Dunno".

Flight Folio

Flight Folio for a single owner / pilot of a trike - what cr@p. Something that can't add value should be scrapped.

Regards
John

Exactly.

I'm with you comrade.

What are you not happy with regarding the flight folio John?
As I understand it, this is how it works:
The engine/airframe/propeller logbook is the place for the equipment list, weight and balance records and maintenance history of the airplane. This logbook may not be kept in the aircraft simply because the records need to be preserved in the event hull loss in an accident.
The flight folio is kept in the aircraft, serves as a place to record flights as they happen, a record of fuel and oil uplift and a place to enter defects as they occur. It can also be stamped by the AP at service intervals and together with the ATF is accepted as the release to service if this is done.
I don't see what the difference is between one or more pilots operating the aircraft.
What am I missing?
Mogas

With KFA on the flight folio.

Also what is problem with skills test?
I look forward to my PPL skills test. Recently I have learn't a great deal from these... Why is this a bad thing. It helps ID bad habits?
Just interested. Before last couple where I got older or bush type instructors vs hr builders I used to dread the dam thing and it was a complete waste of time... (esp when you have 10 years + and 1000hrs more than the examiner/tester)

Agree 100% on the test pilot issue and owner maintenance. There are so few rated on the aeries I fly that I usually end up doing the test flights in any case....

Mogas wrote:What are you not happy with regarding the flight folio Johns

Hi Mogas,

Thanks for input. For a single pilot / owner, one just ends up duplicating data.

Complete waste of time for me. I keep comprehensive log books anyway.

Regards
Johb

RV4ker wrote:With KFA on the flight folio.

Also what is problem with skills test?
I look forward to my PPL skills test. Recently I have learn't a great deal from these... Why is this a bad thing. It helps ID bad habits?
Just interested.

Hi RVFokkership,

I am not asking to be exempt from a Skills Test. But at what stage should one become exempt?

I asked "What about Big G with 2000 hours"? I am told "No, for him we would just fill in the paperwork".

So - where is the cut-off? That is my only query and IMHO leaves the system flawed.

Regards
John

OK?

Was not sure about that. Assume if you find a destructor that will just sign then so be it, but my understanding is that you have to be tested or at least hand in a flight test report regardless of having actually been tested.

I queried this with a grade 1 PPL instructor a while back. (ie the point of someone with 250hrs testing someone with a couple 1000's hrs who is more current etc). His response was that it is necessary to ID and possibly unlearn the bad habits ESPECIALLY if you fly alone and a lot rather than oukes who fly less and tend to be more cautious. Worked for me. As I said, before the last one I dreaded it, since it usually entailed me paying for a young instructor to add another 1.5hrs to his charter hour building. I learnt jack and usually got frustrated. Not so if you choose the destructor carefully and maybe do some interesting "alternative" techniques. next year I plan to get converted onto a Turbo just for the hell of it so the 1.5hrs is not a total waste. Not same for trikes, but I do see some merit. I rekon if you go with a destructor who knows his stuff he could focus on issues you have or would like to explore. I fly regularly with another rated pilot and he is plenty critical (my dad) so I get feedback, but it was not always like that and I could often go 2 years and 400hrs without flying with anyone who knew if I was making KAKA or not. Nice to get some positive feedback on actual performance so I support it, provided the destructors do not milk it. I have had some fly with me for 20 mins and then bill for 1.5hrs because "we are not allowed to fly less than 1.5hrs for the "test"". WTF...

John Young wrote:

Mogas wrote:What are you not happy with regarding the flight folio Johns

Hi Mogas,

Thanks for input. For a single pilot / owner, one just ends up duplicating data.

Complete waste of time for me. I keep comprehensive log books anyway.

Regards
Johb

Good on you for keeping detailed records John, it would be great if everyone did, but if you are keeping detailed records of flight times in the aircraft logbook it would be not the right way to do it. Thats what the flight folio is for. No duplicating there at all.
Come to think of it, you are probably using the old type of logbook where one used to record flight times in it, I still see a few of those occasionally. You could carry on with that one, just stop using it to record flight times and start a flight folio. I have done that and RAASA was happy.

Thanks guys that answers my questions nicely

The flight check is of great value to every pilot irrespective of experience and the question of capping should be approached carefully. Airline pilots do annual route checks,sim refreshers and ratings .Having spent several years doing sim training as well as route checks there were many occassions when inconsistancies would be identified and briefed on.If it's beneficial for airline pilots then it will be just as beneficial to the recreational pilot.
If the checks are done in a sensible manner and the instructors approach is "I'm not here to teach you but just to observe and advise and assist should you have a problem" pilots will approach renewal checks with a positive attitude which will lead to improved safety.
The big problem is bureaucratic rule making and over-regulation that is resulting in resentment to processes that would actually improve flight safety. Only when the authorities start listening to and pay attention to what the people on the "shopfloor" are saying will things start improving.

I am also for doing the skills test at renewal, regardless of candidate flight experience.
This is the way it is everywhere these days, in the old days ones license remained current provided one flew a small amount of hours during the year and was flawed in that bad habits were carried for years before they were exposed, if ever.
There should also be a system in place whereby the instructor need not be rated on that specific type, that is if the candidate is current when he comes to the test.
IMHO the skills test is there not only to have a look at the candidate's general flying skills but more specifically to check procedures such as EFATO, precautionary landings, forced landings, radio work and general airmanship. These are the things that tend to get rusty, particularly when the candidate is the sole pilot on board most of the time.
The skills test should not be seen as exposing oneself to possibly loosing the license but rather taken as an opportunity to sharpen up on things not practiced often and coming out of it a better and safer pilot.
I personally look forward to my renewals (both PPL and NPL) and always come away having learned or been reminded of something.
I also spent many years in the airline business as a crew member (FE), sim and line checks were harrowing experiences in the beginning but once my confidence had grown they became much more enjoyable when prepared for using the right attitude and a bit of preparation.

Just simplify the restriction and let any current competant eg trike instructor do the flight test and not have to shlepp to find one current on your trike.

Airmanship, radio work and flying techniques are not different to specific models.

Sounds like a plan...

Hi,

OK - so not everyone happy.

Emailed link to Donald and Alan.

Hopefully sense will rule in the end for you guys.

Regards
John

What are US reg's like?

Why can't we just adopt those?