Entirely hypothetical question as I don’t have the time, money or space (at the moment) but…
Could I as a capable mechanical engineer (in my own opinion) return an aircraft to the air or do I have to be approved and certified before I even started and if that were the case how do ‘enthusiastic amatuers’ get that certificate in their spare time?
There is nothing to stop me restoring a classic car and returning it to the road to the approval of the MOT inspector (actually for a car built before 1950 I don’t even need an MOT any more) and indeed my father and I have in the past but obviously an aeroplane is a different matter and needs a certificate of airworthiness etc which presumably needs proof I was competent?
By: tomward - 24th April 2015 at 10:37
Interesting reading, I’ll stick with cars for a while but thanks for the input all.
By: trumper - 23rd April 2015 at 20:06
I would imagine getting the approval and advice from the CAA etc before you start would probably save a few tears and alot of money further down the line if something wasn’t quite right and had to be started again–good luck .
By: waghorn41 - 23rd April 2015 at 19:02
I wanted to get my licenses when I left the RAF but it was too costly. But as to whether you need them yourself to build/rebuild an aircraft…. the 109 ‘Black 6’ was rebuilt by volunteers, mainly RAF but not as far as I know licensed. Russ Snadden was a pilot, John Elcombe worked for BT, and I and some others definitely did not have CAA licenses. Always fancied getting an aircraft to rebuild myself if I had the space, time and money.
By: Melvyn Hiscock - 23rd April 2015 at 17:59
Rebuilt by a guitar maker
By: Moggy C - 23rd April 2015 at 17:43
LAA inspectors are variable.
Of that there is no doubt.
Moggy
By: AlanR - 23rd April 2015 at 16:33
My brother in law, who is a retired licensed aircraft engineer, has been helping a chap to
put together a kit build aircraft.
At various steps along the way, an approved inspector has to come in and check to see that
things are being done right. Even though the inspector knows less than my brother in law about
aircraft construction.
By: powerandpassion - 23rd April 2015 at 15:32
Fun first, certificate later
Just start on something small that doesn’t need you to have a certificate. Fluff around in a Museum.
The only difference between a car and aircraft that I have found is that I need to slow down and really understand why things were done rather than assume.
Back then there was a room full of clever folk figuring things out and I can’t compete with that. When you find the ‘why’ its actually the most satisfying moment.
Just start and everything will fall into place. Start on a little part and one day you will have a big part, but the best bit will be the journey. All the certificate stuff will fall into place, if you really need it and if it is consistent with your happiness.
Have fun, then the certificate thing will become invisible.
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April 23, 2015 at 2:33 pm