Advisory Circular AC 90-116 Makes It Clear This Is Not Just A Green Light Carry A Passenger During Phase 1 Flight Testing

EAA has issued a press release informing its members that the FAA recently released AC 90-116, the Additional Pilot Program (APP) for Phase I flight testing. EAA advocacy and safety staff worked closely with members of EAA’s Homebuilt Aircraft Council, Safety Committee, and the FAA to craft the program.

It is now allowed for homebuilders to have a qualified additional pilot on board their aircraft during Phase I test flights. Before this program, builders were only permitted to have “required crew” aboard for initial flights, which usually meant that every Phase I E-AB aircraft was legally required to be flown solo.

This policy change comes after years of data suggesting that the most accidents in the E-AB fleet occur in aircraft during their first eight hours of operation, and that the majority of those accidents were related to pilot loss of control and were preventable. EAA and FAA hope to drastically reduce the rate of these accidents by having an appropriately qualified and experienced additional pilot on board the aircraft with the builder who can fly the aircraft safely, even in the face of unexpected rigging problems or engine stoppages.

The APP is a completely voluntary alternative program, and builders who want to undertake the first flights of their aircraft alone are not affected in any way. The program is currently available to builders of most E-AB kits with manufacturer recommended engine installations.

“This is the first time that builders can get the best of both worlds: going airborne on the plane’s first flights and having an experienced test pilot on board to add an additional layer of safety,” said Tom Charpentier, EAA government advocacy specialist. “The APP is a great example of a program that is a constructive response to safety data, and it has significant potential to reduce the number of Phase I accidents for our community. We hope this will set the stage for additional positive reforms in the future.”

Upon a quick review by ANN staff, it is rapidly apparent that this advisory circular is complex and must be carefully read before adding an additional crew member during phase 1 flight testing of an experimental-amateur built

FMI: www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars/