I opened my email tonight to a flood of requests for the POH outline. So I'm posting it here as well. Just copy and file it away for future use. John PitkinDeveloping a Pilot Operating Handbook for Experimental Aircraft
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Developing a POH takes time. The final product will fill many pages.
Following this outline will ensure you meet all the FAA requirements of a POH.
This outline purposely does not spell out every procedure in final wording as each experimental airplane is different.
Overview
This is an outline of items you should cover in your Pilot Operating Handbook ( POH ) for an Experimental Aircraft. Keep each section as simple as possible and as non-restrictive as possible. The goal is to describe every part of the airplane and how it operates. Most of the items can be addressed with a short paragraph. The performance section may include charts or tables. Many Items are intuitive, but you have to spell it out. You don’t need to describe how to build it, just how it works. For Example:
Doors
Two doors are installed. One on each side. To open the doors from the outside or inside rotate the handle to the open position. Lift the door.upward. An airspring shock assists opening and holds the door open. To close the doors, pull the door downward. Latch the door closed by rotating the handle to the closed and locked position. Caution should be used if opening the doors in flight as wind loads my cause the door to open suddenly. Speed should be reduced to minimum safe airspeed when opening and closing doors in flight.
Formatting Your POH
A 5 X 7 three ring binder is a good size and easy to make revisions.
Divide your POH into five sections.
- Normal Procedures
- Systems
- Limitations
- Abnormal/Emergency
- Performance.
Each chapter should have expanded information on operating procedures and how they relate to the checklists.
You can start with:
TITLE PAGE
RECORD OF REVISIONS
NORMAL PROCEDURES should include the following sub-sections:
General. Identify the type of airworthiness certificate it has. Either Experimental- Amateur Built, or Experimental- Light Sport Aircraft. Include your normal operating checklist here. Make a small copy of the normal checklist to use in the airplane. Description of flight controls. Hot and cold weather operations and Deicing / anti icing which may be as simple as a statement of no icing permitted.
Preflight. Expanded preflight procedures. Passenger briefing. Do not gloss over this. Passengers must be briefed on how to work the seat belts and how to open the door.
Starting. Expanded before start and starting engine checklist. After engine start.
Taxi and takeoff. Expanded taxi checklist. Crosswind procedures. Use of transponder. Take off procedures. Use of flaps. Normal takeoff and obstacle takeoff climb speeds.
Climb. Flap retraction. Instrument scans for engine operation.
Cruise. Fuel burn monitoring and balancing (It could be as simple as flying with one wing low.
Descent. Descent planning. Landing distance compared to field length.
Altimeter setting. Use of carburetor heat. Shoulder harnesses on.
Before landing. Flap extension. Approach speed. Stabilized approach. Crosswind landings. Go around procedures. Flap retraction.
After landing. Brake usage. Flap retraction. Parking. Passenger deplaning. Prop avoidance.
SYSTEMS
This section has information on how to operate all controls and installed equipment.
General
Doors and windows
Cabin heat and ventilation
Operation in rain or freezing conditions.
Communications equipment
Flight instruments and displays.
Programming GPS or other navigation equipment (This can be as simple as a statement to refer to the GPS handbook and a handbook is required for flight.)
Electrical system
Standby power system. (Battery items)
Pitot static system.
Flight controls. Dual or single,
Landing gear, tire pressures.
Brakes. Dual or single.
Steering. Tricycle or tailwheel.
Rudders. Fixed or adjustable.
Flaps/flaperons
Trim system, electric or manual, standby system.
Fuel system
Warning lights.
Fire protection or procedures.
Oil system
Engine cooling system
LIMITATIONS
Minimum number of crew. (We all know it’s one pilot, but you have to spell it out.)
Minimum License Required (Sport Pilot, Recreational or PPL)
Allowed maneuvers, stalls, spins, chandelles, lazy eights etc.
Maximum airspeeds,
Maximum altitude.
Engine limits for RPM take-off, cruise, maximum and minimum temperatures, and minimum pressures. Use of carb heat. (some things show up in more than one area.)
Max take off weight
Max landing weight
CG envelope
Gross weight
Maximum demonstrated crosswind
The limitations will also have a list of all required placards inside and outside.
ABNORMAL/EMERGENCY
You should list procedures for the following:
Aborted take-off procedures.
Engine failure after take-off.
Engine Fire (turn off the fuel)
Cabin fire
Smoke in cockpit
Electrical failure
Engine failure in cruise
Flight control failure
Jammed flight control
Jammed stabilizer or trim.
Runaway Trim
PERFORMANCE
(You won’t have these figures until you do the flight testing.)
Takeoff distance at known weight.
Landing distance at known weights.
Climb rate at known weights.
Best rate of climb indicated airspeed.
Best angle of climb indicated airspeed.
Fuel consumption and range chart.
Stall Speeds
Summary
That about does it. Using the above outline you will cover all of the items required by the FAA for a POH.. Remember to keep it simple. An average POH for an experimental airplane in a 5 X 7 format will be about 40 to 50 pagers.
Do not put anything extra in the POH that is not required. This document becomes controlling. If you say the rudder is painted red for high visibility, then it must be red to fly the airplane. So, don’t say the rudder is red unless you want to restrict it to that color.
John Pitkin
Greenville, Texas
john@cedarcreekrun.com