In case you haven't seen it yet, the AMA has distributed new forms for entrants and CDs at AMA sanctioned events.

On the new form for entrants (that's you who attend), you must now certify and sign that you have a turbine waiver and that your aircraft is under 55 lbs (that's wet).

The CD form requires that the CD witness and sign that you have a turbine waiver, and if your aircraft is over 55 lbs, that you have your LTMA-1 or LTMA-2 Permit to fly WITH YOU (i.e., the CD has seen it).

Note that if your aircraft is over 55 lbs and you DON'T have it certified, then you are in violation of 14 CFR Part 101, and the FAA Reauthorization act of 2018 - as well as the AMA Safety Code. I'd also be willing to bet that you would not be covered by the AMA's insurance if there was an accident, but that would likely be up to the lawyers...

This is a POSITIVE step, and we should view it as such. It is very important that WE show that we can abide by the rules if we expect to continue to operate in the NAS as we have in the past. I am with you in the sentiment that the world is getting too many rules, but that's the political climate these days, and we have to work within that framework if we want to continue to fly jets. I for one, don't want to loose that privilege (or right, depending on your point of view), so I'm in favor of this requirement.

The LTMA-1 and LTMA-2 certifications are not that onerous to obtain and they are now good for 3 years.

For anyone in the Virginia, Maryland,or North Carolina area that needs an LTMA inspection (or an LMA inspection - I do those too), get in touch with me. I'd be happy to take a drive to your place to do the cert.

Bob Klenke
JPO President
LMA Inspector

I was looking at them this weekend at a local fly-in. I am glad they done this. It will help out with registration at events.




Josh

So will it be up to the CD's to verify with a scale on location to make sure the pilots meet requirements?

No, by signing the AMA form you are saying that you are following AMA rules.

Danny Diaz is an LMA inspector
Edit: So are Frank Tiano and Jim Mahoney and there's a guy in Bradenton

On the very form sent to you from AMA it stated
"Although not required, you may want to keep a copy of this acknowledgment with your Permit to Fly for verification purposes."

article 520-C has the list of everyone permitted to fly

Hate im going to have to keep up with these forms every year for 3 years.
Scott

Kris,

That's the case ONLY if its above 77.125 lbs, wet. If its less than that, its an owner inspection and you need one AMA CD to witness the certification flight.

The program is setup so that aircraft over 55 lbs need to be inspected and signed off by someone who is knowledgeable enough to be able to tell if its airworthy. All full-scale aircraft need some form of the same thing, right? I don't know if in the full-scale world you can sign off on your own work, can you? In the LMA program, that only comes into play if the airplane is over 77 lbs.

If anybody should be an LMA inspector, its you. You should apply and get your designation. The rules say that you can't sign off your own airplane though (again, only if its over 77 lbs), so some of the guys I know that do big WWI stuff have gotten two guys in their "club" designated as inspectors and they do every thing locally.

Bob

Kris,

Like I said, you don't need an inspector. I read in the thread that the F-22 is 55 lbs dry, you said. Unless you're carrying over 3 gallons of fuel, you're under 77 lbs. That means its LMTA-1 category and all you need is you, and a 2nd person who is an AMA CD to act as a witness for the certification flight...

Bob

Very cool Bob! I didn't know that's all it took. I thought one person had to be a LMA inspector. I have a CD at my club I can get to sign for me. I also printed out the paper work to be an inspector. Got the LMA-8 form all filled out but now I have to have physical signatures for references. So will need to wait until I go to an event or see some people I know sometime to sign.

Thanks for the clarification. These models are getting bigger and bigger. I for one don't think they should get any bigger. People don't understand that when the model gets bigger and heavier the stress goes up exponentially and is a steep curve when they get bigger. Good to see allot of new smaller planes coming out this year. Hopefully models have reached the top in size.

I agree on all counts! Looking forward to seeing that F-22!

Bob

It's so nice to see the AMA worrying about a virtually non-existent problem, but maybe there are more large scale turbines crashing than that those d*mn UAV's getting in the way of full scale stuff at airports, forest fires, Police operations and what ever you can think of?

Typical government response, like the gun control freaks who seek to punish those who obey the laws already rather than seeking to apprehend those guilty of breaking multiple laws before something bad happens.

Makes me wonder why I bothered with my A&P mechanic and Commercial Pilot licenses.

I dont think It has made anything more complicated. I think it has helped. Now the CD knows, ( This is just one less thing the Cd has to worry BOUT) that there is a plane with a confirmed waiver and the pilot has a turbine waiver. Now you dont have to wonder or ask the pilot to confirm he does or does not have it.

I agree completely.

And as to Zeeb's comment, I agree with that too, to a certain extent, but this is the world we live in, and until we eliminate all law suits (maybe all lawyers???), its the world we'll continue to live in - so we have to do what's necessary...

Bob