Amateur-built and experimental aircraft - Australian Transport Safety ...

Figure 46: Rating of the ability to perform maintenance
Until recently, aircraft built under the ABAA legislation (CAO 100.18 and CAO
101.28) or the Developmental Category (CAO 101.31) had to be maintained by a
LAME in accordance with CAO 100.5. Some non-LAME amateur builders were
given maintenance authorities in the 1980s and earlier, along with the ability to
issue maintenance releases; this was usually because of their substantial aviation
experience, but this area was plagued with ambiguities, particularly in the
Developmental Category. This changed in 2008, after the Sport Aircraft Operations
Group (SAOG) lobbied CASA for change. A new legislative instrument, CASA
451/07, allows amateur-aircraft builders the ability to maintain their aircraft and
issue maintenance releases. This process involves classroom training, a hangar
field trip, and an assignment. The experimental category (AC 21.4), introduced in
1998, allows the builder of an aircraft to maintain it; if it is subsequently sold, then
the original builder or a LAME can maintain the aircraft.
It seems logical that changes to maintenance legislation introduced with the
experimental category might influence perceptions about the ability to conduct
maintenance, however, a statistically significant association between these variables
does not exist, based on the category the aircraft was built in (OR 1.33, 90 per cent
CI 0.84 to 2.10, p=0.29), and operates in (OR 1.32, 90 per cent CI 0.84 to 2.09,
p=0.30). Other factors must influence how people view the ability to perform
maintenance when purchasing an aircraft.
Second-hand aircraft status was a more important predictor of how important
maintenance is to respondents. When compared with aircraft builders, second-hand
aircraft owners were more likely to see maintenance as not applying, or being least
or less important to their ABE purchase decision (OR 2.12, 90 per cent CI 1.31 to
3.44, χ 2 = 6.78, p≤0.01). This makes sense because maintenance by a LAME on a
second-hand aircraft is required by law, and therefore a given, unless the original
builder lives locally and is willing to continue to service the aircraft.
Other reasons for purchase
People made a number of other comments which either clarified or added to reasons
for purchase. There were 33 people who provided additional comments about
reasons for purchase. These included:
• appearance and longevity
• best metal kit available, and reputable kit manufacturer
• no commercial equivalent
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