IFR instruments

[Anonymous]

I'd like to here from the IFR experts on this forum as to which instruments can be used for legal IFR in an experimental. Are the non certified home built glass EFIS systems OK? How about the non IFR certified GPS systems? How do you get the aircraft certified for IFR and keep it current? Doesn't the aircraft and it systems need to be checked and signed off at a regular interval to be flown IFR?

[wvshoem]

Here is a link to the EAA's website you should read that discusses this in detail:

http://members.eaa.org/home/homebuilders/faq/Equipping%20a%20Homebuilt%20for%20IFR%20operations.html

To answer your questions specifically:

Non-certified glass panels are generally ok for flying IFR.

If you are using a non, IFR certified GPS in your airplane, it cannot be used as your primary navigation equipment for enroute, terminal, or approach IFR operations.

To get your airplane certified for IFR, simply meet the requiremenst listed in the article. Then, all the rules that apply to certified aircraft apply to homebuilt. You'll need a pitot static check every two calendar years, ongoing VOR checks (I forget the specific interval), etc. These checks will need to be recorded somewhere - aircraft log or the like.

Of course I wouldn't be responsible if I didn't mention that it may not be the wisest move to fly IFR with the minimum equipment required by the FAA. Two or more of everything (electrical back up, radios, vacuum back up, nav equipment, etc.) is a good idea.

I hope this helps.

William Shoemaker

[Drew]

The VOR check is every 30 days.  Need to log somewhere and the following needs to be logged: date, error, place, and signature (DEPS).

Besides looking at the minimum equipment, need to think about what you are really trying to do.  In a more normal configuration, you would want a vacuum att gyro and an electric T/B (or elect att and vacuum T/B----or all electric but 2 elect systems or all electric with batt backups on both instruments).  The point is that you don't want the vacuum to go dead and take away all the instruments that keep you right side up (you have elect once backing you up).  If you just install an EFIS, if the elect sys goes down, you do have a batt backup, but if the EFIS goes down, it takes attitude, hdg, alt, airspeed, and turn needle all at once.  Make sure that you are properly backed up

I have:
Vac: att, hdg
elect: EFIS (att, airspeed, alt, turn needle)
other pitot static: airspeed, alt