FLC OF A WDB ACFT CARRIED PAX OUTSIDE OF THE ACFT AIRWORTHINESS OPERATING LIMITATIONS ON A 'MARKET SURVEY DEMONSTRATION.'

Narrative

THE PROTOTYPE ACFT (CONFIGURED IN A FULL PAX CONFIGN) WAS OPERATING UNDER AN EXPERIMENTAL CATEGORY CERTIFICATE OF AIRWORTHINESS ISSUED BY THE FAA MIDO (MANUFACTURING INSPECTION DISTRICT OFFICE) FOR PURPOSES OF MARKET SURVEY. THIS IS A MULTIPLE USE CERTIFICATE ALSO USED FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING. IT CARRIES A RESTR THAT 'ONLY PERSONS NECESSARY TO THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT MAY BE CARRIED ON THE ACFT.' IT IS THIS SENTENCE OR MORE CORRECTLY THE INTERP BY MIDO THAT IS AT THE ROOT OF THE PROB. THE ACFT WAS BEING DEMONSTRATED TO A HEAD OF STATE AND HIS ENTOURAGE -- INCLUDING 2 BOYS (UNDER 21 YRS OLD) AND SECURITY. PREVIOUS MIDO STATEMENTS HAD SAID CHILDREN WERE NOT ALLOWED ON EXPERIMENTAL ACFT AND CONTINUED THAT VIEW FOR THIS FLT WHEN ASKED SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THE FLT; EVEN WHEN WE ARGUED THAT THE BOYS COULD BECOME HEADS OF STATE SHORTLY AND BE THE DECIDER FOR ACFT PURCHASES; AND THIS MAN HAD BECOME HEAD OF STATE AT THE AGE OF 17. (BOTH THIS MAN PLUS OLDEST BOY ARE PLTS) ON THE DAY OF THE FLT THE HEAD OF STATE'S HEAD OF SECURITY AND THE HEAD OF STATE'S PERSONAL PLT INSISTED THAT THE BOYS BE ON THE SAME FLT AS THE HEAD OF STATE. THE UNITED STATES SECRET SVC AGREED AND OFFERED TO CALL FAA ADMINISTRATOR AND TALK WITH LCL MIDO IF NECESSARY. THE HEAD OF STATE'S PLT WAS GOING TO CALL HIS CONTACT AT THE WHITE HOUSE. I FELT THAT THIS WAS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF 'INDIVIDUALS NECESSARY TO THE PURPOSES OF THE FLT' AND THUS DEPARTED. THE SAFETY ISSUE: 1) INTENSE STRESS PUT ON CREW IN THESE SITS WHICH ADD TO ALREADY HIGH LEVELS THAT EXIST IN THESE SITS. 2) INCREASED SECURITY RISK FOR HEAD OF STATE WITH DELAYS. IMPROVEMENTS: 1) HAVE MIDO BE AVAILABLE FOR THESE SITS. 2) MIDO WAS NOT FOLLOWING OWN GUIDELINES OF FAA ORDER 8130.2C; CHAPTER 4; PARAGRAPH 142 WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE THIS STATEMENT FOR MARKET SURVEY. 3) DISSEMINATE INFO TO FLCS ON THE DEFINITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS THAT THE AGENCY USES FOR NON-NORMAL AIRWORTHINESS (WHY KEEP IT IN-HOUSE). 4) IN MATTERS OF INTL POLITICS ALL GROUPS SHOULD BE A LITTLE MORE ADAPTABLE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR REITERATED THAT HE AND HIS COMPANY PLT WERE PUT UNDER STRESS WHEN THE CUSTOMER DEMANDED TO GO ON THE FLT WITH INDIVIDUALS UNDER THE AGE OF 21; CONTRARY TO THE LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY THE FAA. HE BELIEVED THAT THIS SIT WOULD HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT IF A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FAA COULD HAVE BEEN AT THE DEP SITE. THE ACFT WAS A B777 USED FOR TESTS WHICH WERE APPROVED FOR THAT ACFT BY THE FAA. THE ACFT WAS COMPLETELY CONFIGURED FOR COMMERCIAL PAX USE BUT WAS CERTIFICATED IN THE EXPERIMENTAL CATEGORY WITH A PROVISION FOR MARKETING RESEARCH (SALES DEMONSTRATION). THEREFORE; HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THE ESSENTIAL CREW ONLY PROVISION SHOULD BE; OR IS; APPLICABLE.