Hey Corey
Here in Canada there is the "Owner Maintenance" category of aircraft. Basically you can take any certified airplane you want, including a 150, and place it under this category where the owner can do any maintenance and repair to it. If you want to install a PT6 into a 150, go for it!
The catch is, though, that the aircraft can
never be returned to one of the conventional categories (normal, utility, etc). The aircraft will become, basically, a homebuilt aircraft, thus the aircraft's value will be reduced greatly. Oh yeah, by the way, the FAA
DOES NOT allow any such registered aircraft to cross the border into the USA because they do not recognize this category within the FARS. I have heard stories of guys going down this road and then finding out later that the FAA will not allow them to enter the USA. Oops!!
You can distinguish these aircraft in the Canadian Registration Database by the serial number of the aircraft having an "X" added to it (eg: 150-664321X). If you look, I believe most of these aircraft are small Cessna's and Pipers.
My point with bringing up this? If you want a certified aircraft, have one. If you want a homebuilt aircraft, have one. But trying to have a certified - homebuilt, just leads to problems, mostly in the pocketbook! I weighed the options when I was looking for an aircraft and decided to go with the good old 150!
John
The above got me wondering so I dived into the Canadian CARS for a refresher. I know, I need to get a life!
The section of interest is CAR Standard 507.03. I forgot that the owner maintenance class is a sub-part of the "Special C of A" category. Also, I believe that an aircraft can return from the owner class, providing that all the requirements for the normal / utility category are met. But that would entail big $$ I would think. Like i said before, I feel it's best to leave the certified aircraft where they belong and the amateur built aircraft where they belong. Each has its good and bad points.
John
CARS Standard 507.03 [
tc.gc.ca]
