Originally Posted by Fuji Abound
DFC
With respect, your dismissive post shows a complete lacking of understanding of actually owning and operating a light aircraft privately. I assume you don’t?
Assume makes an Ass out of you in front of Me.
I do as it happens.
As for having to curtail one's flying? It needs an annual each year. Flying is going to be curtailed one way or another while the annual is done. You could like me arrange for the annual to be done in January while you go on holiday. Do I have to explain again that if your annual falls due 27 February, you have all of January and February to get it done without loosing any Annual validity (you could park it up after the New Years Day fly-in!) and without having the aircraft away for more time than it needs to be
and without having to pay £80
You say the engineers have to be at one's beck and call - Tosh.
Book the aircraft in for Monday in week x, If the weather is too poor to get it across, it has to wait until the next day or next week or whenever the weather improves. No matter if you have the sense to book it in at an appropriate time relative to the available window or not (and pay the £80 fee) it makes no difference, the weather is too bad and the engineer will have to wait for your aircraft (they will usually have other work to keep them going).
As for waiting for spares - if they affect the airworthiness then the aircraft is just as grounded inside or outside the window available to complete the annual.
Should you really want to look after your aircraft and avoid long downtime periods, you should look at progressive maintenance schedules which can be EASA approved.
There is some merit in being able to time the annual to co-inside with a 150 hour check and with more than a 2 month window, there is the oportunity provided you fly enough. Otherwise it is not worth worrying about.
If you want to try and run to the last day of the annual to save money then simply factor in the possible -£80 in the possible saving.
Dismissive? Perhaps so. I think that there is nothing wrong with EASA tightening the rules on who can issue A conditions.
Regards,
DFC