Is it legal to buddy box with a Turbine plane for training before I fly for my waiver with my plane ? Does the flight have to be right before a contest or can it be any time other than during a contest? ( with a turbine plane).

Legal? Yes. You can not get arrested or be given a ticket for doing it.
Approved by the AMA? No

As the rules are written right now you may only fly a turbine powered model if you have a turbine waiver. Buddy boxes are not specifically dis-allowed or allowed, some have interpreted this to mean that it is OK but several years ago the story I got from the AMA was that it is not allowed unless both pilots have a turbine waiver. You may not use a turbine powered airplane for a turbine waiver check flight right now either.

If you read the new regs, I believe that it is now required. And yes AMA does now approve it. In Nebraska this year at an AMA event the head of the JPO was giving buddy box flights with a turbine in front of an AMA contest director.

details here

http://modelaircraft.org/templates/a...-files/567.pdf

only an option till the end of the year. it has to be performed prior to an event, or coordinated with the CD. Not on the days of an event.

if/when the new regs hit the street, it is addressed there as well.

I was were, doing what with whom?

I did not know I had been to Nebraska. That must of been some one else, I was not there.

Steven Ellzey
President, JPO

Sorry Steve, I was told he was the head of the JPO, not the president. And as far as I know everything was doing according to AMA regs.

I helped wite the new regs
Unfortunately the new regs have been put on hold until the next EC meeting
Not "required", but it is (will hopefully be) an option.

Hi Kevin, I thought that it said that a current waiver holder will have to take the student up on the buddy box for the first flight in order to judge if he is ready for his check ride. And if it were to take more than one flight to get him ready that the waiver holder would fly with him on the box until such time as he thought the student was ready. Then the student will have to submit the form to AMA that he met these requirements. Thanks.

p47dman,

It appears there is some confusion. You are probably refering to the Flight Demonstration Waiver Program http://modelaircraft.org/templates/a...-files/567.pdf
This was(is) a program for obtaining your turbine waiver that was implemented on a trial basis for this year(2003) only. It expires on Dec 31 and will not be renewed for next year.

The "new"(hopefully) regulations can be read here http://modelaircraft.org/templates/a...Regulation.pdf
These regulations were voted on and passed by the EC on Nov1, and subsequently thier implementation was suspended during a EC conference call on Nov14.