F A Q

F A Q

1. What is an experimental airplane?

A: They are airplanes in which they had not been applied nor evidenced the certification requirements. But this does not mean that they are unsafe airplanes. There are two types of experimental airplanes: amateur built (for exmple: Mustang II) and that ones that aim the certification. For example: one day the Boeings, Airbus, Beechs, Cessnas and Pipers were experimental airplanes until, after thousands of test flights hours, were issued as certified airplanes.This explains the highest costs of these airplanes.

2. Which are the advantages and disadvantages of an experimental airplane?

A: In the current days, inspections, fuel price, Infraero airtaxes, restrictive DAC (brazilian FAA) bureaucracy and laws for certified airplanes had become a true storm. Because of it, some many people think about changing their traditional airplane for an experimental one.

The main advantages of experimental airplanes are the following ones:

	The annuals and other inspections can be made outside of certified workshops, and can be made by aeronautical, mechanical engineers, A & P mechanics, and by the builder, after all, is the person who most knows the airplane.
	The landing taxes costs approximately 90% less than an certified airplane.
	Several engine, props and fuel options
	Low operational cost.

The main disadvantages are the following ones:

	Own risk flights.
	There´s no accident inquiry by Cenipa (brazilian NTSB)
	Landings and take off restrictions in some brazilian airports.
	They cannot be used commercially.
	The flown hours are not valid as flight experience.

3. Is it necessary to be an engineer or A & P mechanic to build an airplane? The skill is strictly necessary?

A: It is not necessary to be an engineer or mechanic to build an airplane. People with a strong desire, determination and some basic physical laws knowledge are valid, in this case. About the skills, there are some considerations. If the builder reads everything about, learns with most experienced builders and dedicates themselves, he certainty will build a great airplane. But the question of that it will be pretty or ugly, well or badly made is another case. But it´s almost impossible that the airplane will crash...

4. Is safe the use of autoengines?

A: If following some basic criteria, certainly it will be safe. Special care must be taken in the cooling systems and RPM operation of them, therefore they had not been made to work this way. The great advantages are the specific fuel consumption and low cost overhaul . The problem is that some adaptations are more expensive than a mid-time Lycoming, for example. The aeronautical engines, the certified ones, are being always monitored about the existence of project and/or functioning deficiency. When there are some incident or it is evidenced some project or manufacture problems, the AD´s are launched, wich are procedures of maintenance and/or inspection of the affected part. The constant correction of these imperfections becomes an excellent tool for airplane safety, increasing the trustworthiness of aeronautical engines.