Sun, Nov 09, 2008
Program Passes Compliance Audit
During the week of November 3, 2008, members of the FAA's
Production and Airworthiness Division (AIR-200) travelled to
Glasair Aviation's facility in Arlington, WA to review Glasair's
'Two Week To Taxi' program in terms of whether or not such a
program could comply with the 'major portion' requirement of Part
21, Section 21.191(g) -- better known (and infamous) as the "51
percent" rule.
Glasair tells ANN the FAA's on-site team found the "lean
manufacturing" processes employed, combined with the provided
educational assistance, accelerates the Sportsman build time
significantly without violating the spirit or intent of Part 21,
Section 21.191(g).
"We couldn't be more excited about the results of this visit by
the FAA" says Glasair's CEO Mikael Via. "I want to sincerely thank
Mr. Frank Paskiewicz, head of the FAA's production and
airworthiness division, for bringing his team all the way from
Washington, DC to take a look at the unique opportunity we've
developed at Glasair."
Paskiewicz and the FAA's Amateur-Built Rulemaking Committee have
been at the center of vigorous public debate on proposed new
policies for administering and enforcing the 51 percent rule for
amateur-built aircraft.
Glasair admits 'Two Weeks to Taxi' had been somewhat
controversial since its introduction in 2006, because it is the
first program ever developed which allows builders access to a very
organized, systematic course that takes them on a step by step
building program that ends with their airplane taxing from the
hangar under its own power.
"We have worked very, very hard to develop a program that makes
aircraft building more accessible, more organized, and as efficient
as possible, while staying within the letter and spirit of the
amateur built rule," says Via, who added the FAA's findings will
allow the Two Weeks to Taxi program to grow and expand.
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