What Ben doesn’t realize is that even though he may be very intelligent, intelligence is never a substitute for experience and knowledge, also referred to as credentials. Even the best and the brightest engineers, trained specifically in the field in which they are working make horrible mistakes. Not because they aren’t intelligent, but simply because of a lack of experience. Experience is just another word for education.

As an example, air bags were under development for 30 years. The auto makers put their best and their brightest engineers to the task of designing a device to save lives. They tested and they tested and they engineered and they engineered and finally, they felt like they had the solution. But until millions of those devices were put into cars in actual use, none of them realized that those airbags could literally decapitate a child sitting in the front seat of a car! Last year 9 children died as the direct result of airbags and 2 of those were

I know that for a lot of people it is fun trying to solve problems. Some folks want to solve a problem so bad that like Mr. Curtin, they conjure up a problem where none exists just so they can solve it! But when it comes to aircraft, everyone needs to follow the physician’s creed, First, Do no harm. The FAA won’t allow a non-licensed person to work on a certified aircraft for good reason. So it can’t be changed.

INSURANCE AND THE FAA
I mentioned that changing the design of kit planes was beginning to have consequences that are beginning to add up. There have been a lot of incidents and accidents involving experimentals lately. I have talked to representatives of the FAA and to representatives of the insurance companies that insure experimentals. What I am hearing is that they are both beginning to pay more and more attention to whether a project was built by the manufacturer’s instructions or whether the builder incorporated some of his own better ideas. If the builder has deviated from the original design, it is highly likely that there may be problems come final inspection time. That could include requiring the kit supplier and or designer to sign off or approve any changes. One individual mentioned that the suggestion had been put forth that they could require a final inspection by the manufacturer of the kit and a signed statement that the plane was built by the kit instructions and standards.