The anger that I have expressed will be as nothing once French owners are exposed to part M in September this year. Sadly it is going to seem like a stitch-up by Les Anglaises because of our CAA's premature actions.
Competent French owners have long been legal to do their own maintenance with personalised and approved type-specific maintenance programmes. This will not be possible under part M as the permitted pilot maintenance is pitifully inadequate. Many owners, like me simply could not afford an aeroplane if we had to pay an engineer to maintain it.
So far the GSAC seem to be aware of the problem and are offering a restricted part 66 licence under 'Grandfather Rights' to owners who can show proof of their competance. I hope and expect that the French are going to throw quite a few spanners into the part M works after September.
