The EAA this week published a list of CFIs authorized to offer training in experimental aircraft, as the NTSB requested in a study released in May. The study showed that experimental amateur-built aircraft have a fatal accident rate 3 to 4 times higher than the rest of the general aviation fleet, and four recommendations were made to EAA, in addition to 12 directed at the FAA. EAA’s CFI list is categorized by state and lists each instructor with contact information, location, and the types of experimental aircraft they can instruct in. “Proper transition training is an essential first step toward safe operation of experimental aircraft,” EAA said.
EAA said that in response to the other NTSB recommendations, it has already created a Type Club Coalition that includes kit manufacturers, type clubs, and pilot and owner groups, with a website that will go public next week. EAA also has developed transition-training resources and created incentives to encourage builders and buyers of used homebuilts to complete the training. “Significant progress” has been made on the other two recommendations, EAA said — to encourage flight-test training for those who test E-AB aircraft, and to work with the industry to develop standard procedures for recording flight-test data.
