One would have expected that an AOPA committee member to have been thoroughly au fait with Part M.
When your Annex 1 a/c was last in for an annual in April 2008 it would have been issued with a 1 (not 3) Yr C of A, (or an Annual) to take it beyond 5.1.09 when Part M became mandatory.
Therefore, this April, if it gets through its inspection by a subpart F organisation it will be issued with a non expiring 3 yr ARC by the Subpart G organisation (CAMO) to which it is contracted. This will be renewed by the Subparts G & F organisations annually thereafter.
Issues of ARCs really only started after the beginning of 2009.
All a/c under 2730kg that fall into Annex 1 have to be with a CAMO (a subpart G organisation) and maintained by a subpart F organisation, which can be the same company. Most will be the same.
A/c in Annex 2 can still be maintained by an M3 maintenance company and will be issued with a 3 yr C of A with Annuals being issued at year 1 and year 2 following as in the past. A subpart F organisation can still maintain a/c in Annex 2 as well.
Any a/c in Annex 1 can now be used for Public Transport duties as long as it meets the requirements under EASA - which mainly relate to engine life. (JUST-local is incorrect in his post; as is Bookworm)
If an Annex 1 a/c is contracted with a CAMO then ARCs are issued as above. If it is not it must go to a CAMO who, after a full inspection, can recommend the CAA issue an ARC The CAA will then go to the organisation's premises in their own time and carry out their own inspection and review of paperwork etc. at c.£160 per hour + vat. This will be on top of the subpart F organisation and the engineer’s fees
Signing up an a/c with a CAMO will cost a one off fee of c.£450 (not £2500 as suggested by "robin") dependent upon the quality of previous record keeping and a/d incorporation etc.
If an a/c is put on the D register the same rules as here in the UK will apply. Both come under EASA.
If it is put on the N register this will have no effect on the cost involved in replacing or overhauling manufacturers lifed items, as in "bose-x's" case.
In addition there is a growing move afoot against the regular use of N registered a/c in EASA countries, which could mean that they may not be able to be used in future and will have to revert to an EASA state register.
If a prop needs to be overhauled on a time or hours basis, which one suspects is the case with “bose-x”, then the FAA will still require the work to be carried out if that is what the manufacturer or Type Certificate Holder says has to be done. “bose-x” will still have to pay to have the work carried out wherever his a/c is registered. The CAA are not always behind these requirements – it’s usually the manufacturer through experience of what is best practice.
Anyway anyone who earns a huge income and flies hundreds of hours a year would surely expect their aeroplane to be maintained properly and safely for around £40 per hour, which is considerably less (by at least 50%) than, say, a Porsche dealer will maintain their motor car, if that is what they drive.
Regarding the discussion about the proposed ELA changes involving sub 1000kg MTOW a/c :- ELAC 1 states that there could be a provision for a licensed engineer to be able to issue an ARC in the future, subject to the normal full annual inspection etc. However the CAA have no such procedure in place as yet and it is thought that it could be some while – due to the existing pressures on staff – before the necessary legislation can be drawn up.
Had these good folk spoken to an organisation that has gone to the expense, time and cost of gaining Part M subparts I,F & G, and is already issuing ARCs, they would have had it all explained to them in plain English and prevented unnecessary time wasting and inconsistent speculation from sullying the pages of PPRune in this way!
As you are at Spanhoe, why not do as 'grahama' recommended and try J & J Aircraft Services at Peterborough – Sibson.