What is the EAA Flight Advisors program?
The EAA Flight Advisors program is one of the most important sport aviation safety programs ever instituted by any organization. The Flight Advisors program is designed to increase sport aviation safety by developing a corps of volunteers who have demonstrated expertise in specific areas of flying and making them available to EAA members who may be preparing to fly an unfamiliar aircraft.
What does the Flight Advisor do?
A Flight Advisor helps the pilot conduct a self evaluation as well as evaluate the flying characteristics of the aircraft. The pilot then uses that evaluation to decide whether he or she is capable of flying that airplane. If not capable, the Flight Advisor explains where and how he or she can get the proper instruction, or alternatively find someone to make the initial flights.
Can the Flight Advisor do the flight testing for me?
No, the Flight Advisor does no flying and makes no decisions.
Under the EAA Flight Advisors program, the Advisor does not fly nor does he actually decide whether or not the pilot is capable of flying the airplane in question. Using his own expertise in the area, the Advisor provides the pilot with the pros and cons as they relate to this specific combination of pilot and airplane. The pilot himself makes the final decision on how to proceed with the flight testing program.
What are the qualifications of a Flight Advisor?
The primary qualifications to be a Flight Advisor are experience and the willingness to pass that experience along. It is not mandatory that an Advisor be current as a pilot.
To be a flight advisor, he/she must conform to any one of the following experience measures:
First flights or test flown three or more aircraft (homebuilt, restoration or ultralight).
Built/restored and test flew own aircraft and
- is a Technical Counselor with significant flight experience
- or has significant experience in requested specialty, (i.e., homebuilts, antique, classic and more than 1,000 hours PIC time.
Built and test flew own ultralight and
- is a Technical Counselor with significant flight experience
- or has more than 300 hours in ultralights
ATP/CFI with significant "show plane" experience, (i.e., antique, classic, homebuilt, and more than 1,000 hours PIC).
Military flight test experience with "show plane" experience, (i.e., antique, classic, homebuilt, ultralight).
Is the Flight Advisors program only for homebuilts?
No! All types of aircraft are Involved. The Flight Advisors program is aimed at all sport aviation aircraft including, but not limited to, homebuilts, restorations, ultralights and rotorcraft.
Do Flight Advisors specialize in an aircraft type (e.g. ultralights or rotocraft)?
The Flight Advisor can specialize in a given area. Flight Advisors are expected to specialize in those areas with which they are most familiar.
How much time is involved?
The Flight Advisor’s workload will be dependent on the amount of sport aviation activity in the area as well as his or her desire to be involved. The paperwork is limited to filling out a simple form at the end of each flight advisory session.
