Is your Experimental Airworthy? I am being told the EAA has it wrong.

[Frank Giger]

Hell, because it's a required placard, I have one in my single seat airplane.

It was easier to put it on the panel than argue.

[martymayes]

I wonder how many folks that fly two seat experimental's when they take another non aviation person for a ride, tell these people they are climbing into a Non-airworthy airplane by definition of the FAA? In my eye's this should be part of the preflight when taking a second person on a ride in an Experimental. To not tell them this little tidbit of info is not doing a complete preflight with this person. IMHO.

I don't think the FAR that covers operating an experimental aircraft says specifically that the passenger has to be told it's a "Non-airworthy airplane by definition of the FAA" rather they have to be advised of the experimental nature of the aircraft. Since it doesn't have to be a verbal advisory, a placard will suffice. Other FAA guidance covers the wording of the placard. Note they use the word "shall" meaning it's required.

§91.319 Aircraft having experimental certificates: Operating limitations.

(d) Each person operating an aircraft that has an experimental certificate shall—

(1) Advise each person carried of the experimental nature of the aircraft;

[FlyingRon]

It's usually in the op lims as well...the specimen limitations has this entry:

...the following placard must be displayed in the aircraft in full view of all occupants: “PASSENGERWARNING—THIS AIRCRAFT IS AN EXPERIMENTAL LIGHT-SPORT AIRCRAFT AND DOESNOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL SAFETY REGULATIONS FOR STANDARD AIRCRAFT.

However 8130.2H adds after that requirement the following

Note: This placard is not necessary for single-place aircraft.

[CarlOrton]

Both placards are required. The "Experimental" placard has to have a minimum letter size of 2" (I believe). It only has to be in a location that is visible to the passenger as they enter the aircraft.

The smaller "warning" placard has to be in plain view of the passenger while seated, after entry.

Heck - we (my employer) had a B737 that was modified enough that *it* was placarded as an Experimental.

[FlyingRon]

The photo I posted was just inside the main boarding door of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner prototype. The doors also have EXPERIMENTAL stenciled over them.

[1600vw]

I fly single seat and have never seen one of those place cards in any of the singles I have flown. Because its not required. I believe this is how we got to this point. The people I have been talking with all fly single seat. As mentioned single seat does not have to have this place card. Most of us who fly single seat never climb into a two seat. I don't anyway. In all these years I have taken one ride in a two seat EAB or experimental. But I do remember seeing that place card in that airplane.

[rwanttaja]

I fly single seat and have never seen one of those place cards in any of the singles I have flown. Because its not required. I believe this is how we got to this point. The people I have been talking with all fly single seat. As mentioned single seat does not have to have this place card. Most of us who fly single seat never climb into a two seat. I don't anyway. In all these years I have taken one ride in a two seat EAB or experimental. But I do remember seeing that place card in that airplane.

Not in mine, either, but I can understand Frank's point of view, in that sometimes it's easier to just go along.

Kinda like my Fly Baby's insurance carrier, which insists I carry $100,000 passenger liability coverage. I told them there wasn't a termite ALIVE that was worth 100 Gs.

Ron Wanttaja

[rwanttaja]

I fly single seat and have never seen one of those place cards in any of the singles I have flown. Because its not required. I believe this is how we got to this point. The people I have been talking with all fly single seat. As mentioned single seat does not have to have this place card. Most of us who fly single seat never climb into a two seat. I don't anyway. In all these years I have taken one ride in a two seat EAB or experimental. But I do remember seeing that place card in that airplane.

OK, I've got us single-seat homebuilt pilots covered:

Ron Wanttaja

[Frank Giger]

I'm thinking of coming up with a small passenger warning placard to put on the sides of the interplane struts:

THIS AIRCRAFT DOES NOT HAVE A PASSENGER SEAT. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL AVIATION STANDARDS AND THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN LAY ON THE WING AND HANG ON TIGHT TO THIS STRUT IS ILL CONSIDERED.

[Dana]