Six Chuter West LLC

The Experimental Exhibition Alternative

“An Alternative to Flying Illegally”

There may have been some aircraft owners that missed the deadline of January 31, 2008 to receive an Experimental Light Sport Aircraft registration.  And now you are thinking you have (1) a spare parts supply for your friends, (2) an illegal aircraft if you choose to fly it, or (c) something you maybe can sell to someone in Mexico or Canada.  Not so fast, think again.

You may be able to get your former vehicle into the Experimental Exhibition category provided you do a little extra paperwork. The following are some of the restrictions to Exhibition category:

1.    The pilot needs to hold an appropriate certificate.

2.    The aircraft must be inspected each year in accordance with the scope and detail of FAR 43 appendix-D (Annual inspection) The inspection must be carried out by an A&P, possibly you can talk your FSDO into letting you do the condition inspection if you have a Light Sport Repairman/Maintenance certificate .

3.    You may not fly over densely populated areas except for the purpose of takeoff and landing .

4.    You may not operate the aircraft for compensation or hire . (ie, no commercial operations)

5.    The aircraft may only be operated for the purpose of exhibition, maintenance and proficiency .

6.    Exhibition is defined as: attending a school or shopping mall exhibition, fly-in, rally, airshow, aerobatic competition or organized practice session .

7.    For flights other than those listed above, the aircraft may only operate within a specified geographical area, usually a circle of 300 NM based on the airport at which the aircraft is based .    NEW or REVISED Operating Limitations eliminate the 300 NM proficiency area .   In other words, NO RESTRICTIONS WHERE YOU CAN FLY, EXCEPT FOR CLASS B AIRSPACE .

8.    At the beginning of each year, the operator must submit a list of the events he/she intends to attend that year (program letter) .

9.    For any flights not listed in the program letter and which lie outside the 300 NM radius, the FAA must be informed in advance by FAX or post card . (Inform, NOT ask permission) .   THIS DOES NOT APPLY IF YOUR OPERATING LIMITATIONS DO NOT STATE A 300 NM PROFICIENCY AREA .

As you can see from the above there really isn’t much restriction.  Let’s go through the points one by one.

1. An appropriate pilot certificate would of course be your Sport Pilot certificate with proper class endorsement.  No problem there.
2. Everyone has to have an annual.  The slight problem is that yours will have to be signed off by and A&P.  Many A&Ps will work with a customer and allow the customer to do the annual with them supervising and for a fee sign the logbook.  This requires some asking around to find a sympathetic A&P wanting to make some easy cash.  IF you attend the Mantenance repairman course you may be able to convince you rlocal FSDO that you are capable of performing the condition inspection.  Since an LSR/M  can do the condition inspection on a certified SLSA this would be a reasonable request.
3. Most of us don’t want to fly over densely populated areas with a two stroke engine anyway.
4. Can’t do that with ELSA either.
5. Ok, here is where things start to get interesting.  And that is answered by:
6. Exhibition defined.  Looks like you can go to most of the events you go to now and that is correct.  The FAA is fairly lenient in the event definitions.  So most any pre-planned event would qualify.
7. Here is another restriction of sorts.  You can only fly a non-stop, out and back from your home field.  That means you can’t take off and go over to a friends field and land.  When you take off from your home field you must land back there.  And you are allowed 300 nautical miles to do that.  I dare say that should be enough area.
8. (Note: All samples available by visiting RULE Aviation Website http://www.ruleaviation.com/experimental%20exhibition.htm )Another part of that paperwork I was talking about.  I have included an example of a program letter here:  Sample program letter    And a fill able program letter form here: Experimental program letter for you to use if you decide to try for a Exhibition certificate.
9. 300 nautical miles should be enough area to have fun.  And if you want to go out of the are at the last minute just “inform” the FAA and you have met your legal requirements.

Here is a sample of what your operating limitations might look like:  Sample operating limitations

So aside from the extra paperwork that is mostly just telling the FAA in advance where you plan to go have fun,  the Experimental Exhibition category is a way to get your aircraft back flying and do it in a legal way and have a unique certificate.  Feel free to email me with any questions.  Here is the link to the process:  Procedure for Exhibition category

Clyde Poser, DAR

Rule Aviation