Mein Eigenbauluftfahrzeug

14 Apr 2022 Mein Eigenbauluftfahrzeug

In Switzerland we no longer have the option to label our aircraft Experimental to warn would-be passengers that they are about to get into a contraption that was built by a “crazy” person in their garage. The new terms are either Homebuilt or Eigenbauluftfahrzeug. No French option, for some reason. I chose the German.

Apologies if this link moves or doesn’t work. It’s the regulation that defines the labeling requirements for homebuilt aircraft in Switzerland:

https://www.bazl.admin.ch/dam/bazl/de/dokumente/Fachleute/Luftfahrzeuge/Entwicklung_Herstellung_Baumuster/unterkategorie_eigenbauvglanhang4dervllvom15072015.pdf.download.pdf/unterkategorie_eigenbauvglanhang4dervllvom15072015.pdf

BTW, I’m fully in support of ensuring that people know that an aircraft was not built in a factory. I personally believe that my aircraft is as safe as a factory-built aircraft, but I concede that not every homebuilt aircraft is built to the same standards that the factories use. Humans are fallible, and the processes in a factory will most likely be more rigorous and catch mistakes better than a single person working in their garage, no matter how careful they might be. I think it is both respectful and honest to be clear to any passengers that they they are taking an increased risk flying with a homebuilt aircraft, no matter how it is labeled – Experimental, Homebuilt, or Eigenbauluftfahrzeug.