[Wing] Fw: Wing digest, Vol 1 #195 - 8 msgs

[T&M Elgood]

> Today's Topics:    With comments from Terry Elgood, MD-RA Chief inspector
for BC
>
>
>   If you are not happy say how and why here.  I recieved really =
> unprofessional service from one Transport Canada inspector during my =
> last aircraft construction and made the mistake of complaining about him =
> in writing.  Now he is refusing to do inspections for me and insists I =
> bring someone up from down south for my RV-8.  There is a whole serious =
> of events I can provide but suffice to say I am immersed in the turf =
> wars between Transport Canada and MDRA.


T.E.
There is no "turf war" between MD-RA and Transport Canada. MD-RA has a
contract with Transport Canada to provide inspection services to amateur
built aircraft builders in Canada. If more information regarding this
arrangement is required contact Allan Mahon, General Manager MD-RA
Inspection Services





> I have had Jim Asprey do my last 3 planes and would highly recommend you =
> ask for him when you need an inspection.
> He is very thorough and is well qualified to the job. (he is building a =
> RV-6 ).
> Bryan

T.E.
Thank you Bryan, I'm sure Jim appreciates your comments. You and your wife
have built some beautiful airplanes.


> From: "Franz Fux" <franz at lastfrontierheli.com>

> Where does Jim Asprey live and do you have a contact number. I am building
> an RV7 and would love to have the opportunity of an independent inspection
> and or some suggestions some times along the building process
> Franz Fux
> Vernon

T.E.
Franz, there are two qualified inspectors in Kamloops, one of them will
inspect your aircraft. I doubt you would consider the travel costs for Jim
from White Rock.



> From: "Del Schneider" <del at deltech.ca>
>
> I finished my RV6-A last November. Inspection and paper work was virtually
> seamless from start to finish with lots of help from the people at MD-RA.
I
> know in a couple of instances I did not fill the paper out exactly
> correctly, but had help at every angle from Gerry Halliburton in London,
> Ont. and Terry Elgood in Vancouver and in particular the local inspector
Dan
> McKeith in Quesnel. When the 25 hour were completed I walked into the
> Transport Canada office and had the paper work signed off in a couple of
> hours. Sure it's a lot of paper work and a pain in the butt for those of
us
> that hate paper work but what the heck, you just spent years building and
> you did that right, now do the paper work correctly.
>

T.E.
Del, thank you, I appreciate your comments and I'm sure Dan and Gerry will
also. I doubt any of you would believe me if I told you the amount of time I
spend on this VOLUNTEER job, trying to HELP people.




 Hi Jacob,
>
> >             Sorry, we are building in Whitehorse, Yukon (Two hours North
> of Skagway Alaska).  Transport Canada has an agreement with MD-RA that
MDRA
> will do inspections, "except where no inspector is available".

T.E.

Jacob, there is not much I can do to help you here, you may have to request
an inspection from Transport Canada through the MD-RA. If you are having
"difficulty" with a local inspector, contact Allan Mahon he may be able to
help you deal with Transport through his contacts.




>                 The turf war begins because the MD-RA is very reluctant to
> say they want TC to do ANY inspections, so they are siding with TC in this
> case on principle I guess..
> > -Rob

T.E.
Rob, not quite true. As I stated above, MD-RA has a contract. If a T.C.
inspector gets involved without him being requested to through the proper
channels he just might get a phone call from a certain individual back east
who carries a very big stick and is not reluctant to use it, it has happened
before.


>
>   [George McNutt] __ If you are not happy say how and why here.
>
>   Hi Jim,   - good idea!
>
>   I think that the MD-RA is trying to do a good job and has many fine
> volunteers,

T.E.
George, thank you


 but I also believe that MD-RA is handicapped by their inadequate
> agreements with Transport.These problems mostly emanate from MD-RA and
> Transport headquarters but are exasperated by some individuals who seem to
> think that their MD-RA training manual supercedes the CAR's.

T.E.
George, specifically, what "individuals-------training manual supercedes the
CARS"




>   (1) Gross weight increase, - Despite already having kit manufacturers
> letters on file MD-RA was insisting on a letter from the kit manufacturer
> (Vans) approving a gross weight increase for my individual aircraft prior
to
> issuing a flight authorization. This seemed to be a case of the MD-RA
> worrying about their own liability and ignoring what the CAR's said about
> the subject.
>   My understanding is that this problem is now resolved with the builder
> supplying a letter assuming liability for the heavier weight.
>
T.E.
George, each aircraft is unique, like it or not it is. It is irrelevant what
is on file for the gross weight for similar aircraft. As I am sure you are
aware Transport Canada form 24-0079 Application for C of A asks "was the
design modified" prior to resolving this issue if the answer was yes (the
gross weight was increased) the builder required a letter from the designer
allowing the increase, Vans would no longer do this. A new procedure was
developed to allow a builder to increase the gross weight. Thank you for
your help in resolving this situation. (why should MD-RA worry about
liability, as an inspector I am working for and insured by Transport Canada
, if I wasn't do you think I would be doing this)



T.E. personal comment

It will be interesting to see what happens in a lawsuit when someone is
killed in a over gross RV, the builder already has a noose around his neck
as the manufacturer of an aircraft. I can just imagine the fake indignation
of some lawyer saying you mean to tell me you willingly flew the aircraft
over it's RECOMMENDED design limits. When they get finished with him he will
be eating dog food and living under a bridge.



>   (2) MD-RA's inability to modify initial operating limitations - The 25
> mile operating radius limitation at airports such as Boundary Bay can be a
> safety hazard. >

T.E.
George, at your request I brought this up at a meeting in Ontario. Prior to
the meeting I reviewed the situation with Transport Canada locally, they
were in agreement that I should be allowed to provide an exemption to the 25
mile rule, similar to that provided then and now. At the Ont. meeting,
Transport agreed, when I returned home he changed his mind. Believe me I
tried.

T.E.
Jim Jewell, thank you for starting this discussion, there appears to be a
lot of misunderstanding about MD-RA. I hope this clears up some questions.
Are you the Jim that Larry introduced me to at Langley last weekend, if you
are it's too bad you didn't join in our conversation, it would have been
interesting to talk to you.