After building my RV-7, I became an EAA Technical Counselor. Since then I have visited numerous airplane builders, inspected their work, and gave them help (both hands-on and informational) to ensure they're on the right track with their project. My goal is to contribute to their safety and to help them build an airplane that will be as safe and reliable as possible. I do this by passing on the valuable lessons that I've learned both from experience building and maintaining my own plane, and also from having gleaned a ton of information from others -- such as A&Ps, DARs, and folks with considerably more experience than myself. To me, it's all about passing on information that will not only make aviation safer, but also that will make builders' lives easier down the road. It's also about dispelling unfounded worries and helping to encourage builders that they're doing a great job, and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel!
The Technical Counselor service is done purely on a volunteer basis. I do not get compensated for this service. The bulk of my vists have been local, here in southern California. Since I travel in my RV-7 quite a bit I've been known to do visits more than 400 miles from home. If you would like a Technical Counselor visit, just drop me some email and we'll make arrangements.
There is some controversy among homebuilders about whether or not a builder should be the person who makes the first flight in his or her new airplane. I tend to fall on the side of the fence supporting the notion that the first flight is an integral part of the building experience, and that a builder deserves to have that unparalleled, exhilarating experience. There is a huge sense of pride (to put it lightly) that is inherent in such a major accomplishment. But in recent years, I've seen a few cases where builders were not as prepared for the first flight as they could have been. Fortunately there were no accidents, but let's just say things could have gone a little more smoothly with a little more due diligence. I think there have been some cases where builders probably were not ready to make their own first flights. I firmly believe the pilot should be just as ready for the experience as the airplane. We strive to make the first flight a non-event, ensuring that there are no loose ends and no question marks. The pilot should certainly not be a question mark!
My goal in becoming involved with the EAA Flight Advisor program is to get more proactively involved with pilots before their first flights, and to help them prepare themselves. This has less to do with the airplane and more to do with a self-evaluation on the pilot's part, and an evaluation of the characteristics of their particular airplane and systems. I still believe every builder deserves to make their own first flight, but people need to be honest about their own capabilities. I'm there to help you with this process, and to help you get to where you need to be. I'm not acting as a flight instructor, but rather helping you develop an impartial perspective. I'm also there to help you produce a safe and manageable flight test program that works for both you and the airplane.
If you haven't flight tested an airplane before, if you need assistance putting together a flight test program, or if you just want to bounce your ideas off somebody before you fly that new airplane for the first time, I encourage you to take advantage of the Flight Advisor program.
Like the Technical Counselor program, Flight Advisors do not get compensated for their services. One key difference, however, is that as Flight Advisor I can accomplish most of the goals remotely -- even over the phone in most cases. So if I can be of assistance as a Flight Advisor, please let me know!