Thread: Filing and Flying IFR

So, does it seem possible that a CTLS equipped with a Garmin 430 would be "legal" to file and fly IFR? The 912-S engine is supposed to be FAA certificated.

Seems to me that if an amateur-built airplane can fly IFR, an SLSA should be able to, as well.

Anyone have any ideas on this?

No can do. The engine is the 912 ULS, not certified. FD does not certify the plane for IFR. Two strikes and you are out! WF

Funny, this page: http://flightdesignusa.com/aircraft/ctls/ says in the right-hand column 912S and in the left-hand column 912ULS.

OK, so I won't take the Evektor out of the running yet then. Darn.

I believe the pitot would need heat and the airframe would need a metal mesh incorporated into it for lighting strikes. Our columbia 350 has a copper mesh in the layups of carbon fiber and glass. I dont know what cirrus and the others due, but i suspect something similar. I am sure this is just the short list of things needed to be IFR certified.

Sounds logical, but tons of Lancairs and other experimentals are composite and fly IFR, right? I seriously doubt every one of them has lightning protection.

Seems like a really gray area when you consider SLSA's are closer to experimentals than certified aircraft, right?

So, if we'd BUILT the planes ourselves we could fly IFR, but not if the factory did? Weird. Traditionally, you can de-certify a certified airplane into an experimental simply by adding something that doesn't have an STC and isn't on the orig. TCDS and marking the plane as Experimental. But SLSA's dont' have STC's becasue they don't have TC's.

I'm sure EAA and AOPA are already all over this. All I could find on AOPA's web site is that it requires the S engine because it is certified and the ULS is not.

This can be done. The best person to contact who does have the answer in total is Dan Johnson. His web site is www.bydanjohnsonc.om. Contact him and he can explain the IFR stuff to you. Bottom line is you can file and fly IFR in a FD CT but there are requirements - he know's them much better then I.

Roger H

could not find info on ifr in ct on dan johnson web site any ideas on finding the info on his site Thanks

Why would you want to insert copper mesh on a carbon fibre aircraft? Unlike glass fibre, any thing made from carbon fibre is highly conductive as regards electricity. Even carbon fishing rods come with a warning to keep them away from overhead power lines when casting.
Mac

Without going into too many details, the problem is that carbon fiber is a poorly conductive rather than highly conductive and the lightning strike energy gets dissipated in the material rather than flowing through it harmlessly.

In the event of a lightning strike does that mean the whole airplane will glow and you won't need instrument /panel lights? hmmmmm.
Seriously though, IFR is one topic we don't have to worry our heads about. Our licence is strictly clear of cloud AND in sight of ground/water, otherwise the sky's the limit, even top of cloud VFR is off limits.
Mac