AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2014 - 102

NEWS & NOTES

MEMBER SERVICES

LEARN MORE

AOPA's Rusty Pilot program allows lapsed
pilots a way to return to flying in a matter
of hours through a free session of ground
school that fulfills the FAA flight review
for ground instruction. Flight schools and
flying clubs may request to host a Rusty
Pilot program by clicking "Learn more" at
www.RustyPilots.org.

Rusty pilot shares story of return to the skies
MARK LUETKEMEYER of Plano, Texas, could be the poster child of
AOPA's new Rusty Pilot initiative. After seeing an article about the
effort to get pilots back into the cockpit, he sent an email to share
the story about how he began flying again after a 25-year hiatus.
"My dad used to take us to the Jefferson City airport in Missouri,"
Luetkemeyer said. "I got my certificate when I was 24 while in the
Navy." While in the military, he also earned his instrument, multiengine, and commercial certificates. He had accumulated almost
1,500 hours when he stopped flying.

PLACARDS ARE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED on the

BY MIKE YODICE

AOPA Pilot
Protection Services

panels of many general aviation aircraft, and for
good reason-compliance with the message they relate is mandatory. FAR
91.9(a) says, in part, that no person may operate a civil aircraft without complying with the operating limitations specified in the approved airplane or
rotorcraft flight manual, markings, and placards. The limitations are generally set
forth in the manufacturer's flight manual or owner's handbook for a particular aircraft. Some
placards are directed by airworthiness directives.
FAR 91.213 addresses the conditions under which pilots may take off with inoperative instruments or equipment. You may operate most light aircraft with inoperative instruments or equipment
so long as they are not part of the VFR day type certification or otherwise required for a particular
type of operation (day, night, IFR; see FAR 91.205) and they are deactivated and placarded "inoperative" or removed from the aircraft and the cockpit control placarded. Sometimes, this requires
maintenance. And, in all cases, the pilot or the mechanic must make a determination that the inoperative instrument or equipment does not pose "a hazard to the aircraft."
On the maintenance side of things, there is shared responsibility between pilots and mechanics.
FAR 91.405 requires owners or operators to have inoperative instruments or equipment repaired,
replaced, removed, or inspected at the next required inspection and ensure that placards are
installed, as required. FAR 43.11 stipulates that the person performing required maintenance must
placard items permitted to be inoperative under 91.213(d)(2) and shall add the items to the signed
and dated list of discrepancies given to the owner or lessee.
Mike Yodice is the director of legal services plans at Yodice Associates and counsels LSP/PPS members on such issues as FAA compliance and enforcement.
WEB

Learn more about AOPA Pilot Protection Services (www.aopa.org/pps)

102 | AOPA PILOT June 2014

ANSWERS FOR PILOTS

PILOTS AND PLACARDS

"When I was in the military, I flew with military flying clubs,
which were very reasonable. When I became a civilian in the early
1980s, there wasn't a good military flying club nearby and other
things took up my time." Last spring Luetkemeyer told his wife he
was either going to retire or keep working and start to fly again. "If
you want to talk about rusty pilots, that's me," Luetkemeyer said.
He started flight training in July and finished in December. "It
takes persistence, especially if you're over 60 like me and have medical problems. But if you want it you can do it."

TIME TO
BUY?
WITH THE ARRIVAL

of spring, pilots are
calling AOPA's Pilot
Information Center
with questions about
buying an aircraft.
We have answers for
all of your questions,
as well as several
helpful resources.
Check out this
month's Answers for
Pilots (www.aopa.
org/Pilot-Resources/
Answers-for-Pilots.
aspx), which discusses basic aircraft
purchasing information. Of course, if
you have additional
questions, please call
us again. 800-USAAOPA (872-2672).

http://www.RustyPilots.org http://www.aopa.org/Pilot-Resources/Answers-for-Pilots.aspx http://www.aopa.org/Pilot-Resources/Answers-for-Pilots.aspx http://www.aopa.org/Pilot-Resources/Answers-for-Pilots.aspx http://www.aopa.org/Pilot-Resources/Answers-for-Pilots.aspx http://www.aopa.org/pps

AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2014

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