cdeerinck
Well Known Member
My questions below are not RV specific, but I am pretty sure would be of interest to RV owners.
In doing forum searches here, it seems that many (maybe most or nearly all) RV's do not have a Minimum Equipment List (MEL).
My glider is not certified in the US as there are only two in the US. It is certified in any many other countries.
In the Flight Manual, it specifies the Minimum Equipment List, and refers to the Maintenance Manual. Specifically it reads:
In the Maintenance Manual, it lists specific Manufacturers, Model, and Certificate # for the equipment. Under some items such as the Altimeter, is has a caveat of
Much of that equipment is either no longer available, or have long been replaced by newer generations For example, the Becker radios listed are the AR 2008/25, AR 3201, and AR 4201. The current version offered by Becker is an AR 6201. In the case of the AR 4201 which I have, it actually has an AD that makes in unreliable, given that it can be jammed by signals not on the currently tuned frequency.
My questions are:
1) Does the MEL apply even though it is Experimental?
2) Is a MEL required for experimental aircraft?
3) If the answer to #1 or #2 is yes, how can one get it revised?
4) Can anyone point me in the direction of specific FARs to get answers to the above questions?
I am hoping to do a panel upgrade, but have limited space, and it would not be feasible to keep old MEL equipment and add new items as well.
In doing forum searches here, it seems that many (maybe most or nearly all) RV's do not have a Minimum Equipment List (MEL).
My glider is not certified in the US as there are only two in the US. It is certified in any many other countries.
In the Flight Manual, it specifies the Minimum Equipment List, and refers to the Maintenance Manual. Specifically it reads:
"As minimum equipment only the instruments and equipment specified in the equipment list (see maintenance manual sec. 6) are admissible. Note: The actual equipment list is filed in the enclosures of the maintenance manual."
In the Maintenance Manual, it lists specific Manufacturers, Model, and Certificate # for the equipment. Under some items such as the Altimeter, is has a caveat of
Many other items listed do not have any such caveats."Or any other TSO C 10b specified and approved altimeter with fine range pointer 1 turn max. 1000 m, 3000 ft."
Much of that equipment is either no longer available, or have long been replaced by newer generations For example, the Becker radios listed are the AR 2008/25, AR 3201, and AR 4201. The current version offered by Becker is an AR 6201. In the case of the AR 4201 which I have, it actually has an AD that makes in unreliable, given that it can be jammed by signals not on the currently tuned frequency.
My questions are:
1) Does the MEL apply even though it is Experimental?
2) Is a MEL required for experimental aircraft?
3) If the answer to #1 or #2 is yes, how can one get it revised?
4) Can anyone point me in the direction of specific FARs to get answers to the above questions?
I am hoping to do a panel upgrade, but have limited space, and it would not be feasible to keep old MEL equipment and add new items as well.