Perhaps I should clarify…. perhaps ‘from manufacture’ wasn’t the right term. “From Initial Permit Issue” is the precisely correct term. For me that was about 2 months after I finished building it due to the testing program and waiting for the permit to be issued.
carlmeek wrote:
The LAA are making sure that an owner doesn’t bite off more than they can chew, trying to do initial testing on an aircraft (to work out the kinks) and also to get IFR approval at the same time. There are a few sad cases of Americans doing this and killing themselves, an RV-10 with a Subaru engine Fatality springs to mind.
FAA E-AB Phase 1 (test) operating limitations are 40 hrs with a non-certified engine/propeller, 25 hrs if certified, and would very typically include a limitation to VFR day operarions within a relatively small geographic area. Phase 2 (normal operations) applies after the test period and does not typically limit the aircraft to VFR, when IFR equipped. The paperwork looks like this. [ local copy ]
Latest update for night flying of Vans RV10 in the UK.
After receiving our day VFR permit, the next goal was adding the night privileges. This was the first night test evaluation Flight to be authorised by the LAA, so it took a bit of time getting the requirements and wording correct.
The good news is that on 31 Jan I carried out the test Flight and all went well, so it is now a case of getting the paperwork sorted out.
For OUR mission, the LAA IFR and night certification will have a big impact on how we can operate the Aircraft. We operate within the Southampton CTA, so always have an alternate Airfield with an ILS and lighting. We operate predominantly within the UK and Channel Islands.
As Peter noted earlier in the thread, RVs are often, but not exclusively by any means, flown by Airline pilots. I have over 6000 hours night, but flying a SEP from a regional Airfield was interesting, as I am much more used to airports with LED lighting and Aircraft with well lit Flight decks. Having said that I really enjoyed the test Flight.
The whole process of gaining IFR Night certification has been rewarding but also time consuming.
The next phase is to get the night addition to the permit and then start using the additional permit privileges.
I hope people find this is of interest, as I don’t post on this subject anywhere else, but this forum seems to be appropriate for this information.
Rgds
It’s good info, thanks.
I’d like to do get the Falco approved but i’m Not sure I can be arsed…..
Currently this route is available for VFR immediately, subject only to being signed off by your GP to drive a car.
GP sign off is no longer required for a med dec.
That’s correct in the “self certification” sense, but if you were blocked by a GP from driving then you can’t fly on the self declaration until the GP has signed you off as ok for driving.
Many people are very interested in this topic @teal – thanks for your update.
To be pedantic the only people who can “ block” you from driving in the U.K. are DVLA.
The responsibility to report “non driving” medical conditions rests with the driver not the GP, but following the Glasgow bin lorry crash, the GMC have advised GPs that they may disclose such medical information to the DVLA without fear of sanction for breach of confidentiality.
Various conditions are a statutory driving ban e.g. 6 weeks for a bypass. OTOH you can drive after the 6 weeks without needing a signoff from anybody – unless a doctor says you can’t. I reckon you would have fun collecting on an insurance claim if there was a note on your medical record saying he told you to not drive 
DVLC refuse to issue driving licences, but issue a letter, to be produced to police, saying you are authorised to drive. This is also done for HGV drivers.
On my second post-70 licence application, they asked about any referral to a specialist for eye disorders. In my case, this was in my teens. They were quite happy to leave matters when I couldn’t remember the consultant’s name, and I had to push to get my license, threatening to involve my MP. They then sent an irrelevant form, which my GP scrawled “Irrelevant” all over, thumping it with the practice stamp. Then I got the licence.
When moaning about them, I heard that an over 65, full time HGV artic driver had been driving for over a year with such a letter. (Frequent run to Glasgow. )
Teal wrote:
I hope people find this is of interest, as I don’t post on this subject anywhere else, but this forum seems to be appropriate for this information.
Great info, thanks for the updates! Enjoy the privileges! :)
Igor
