Upholstery work

Johnny torres said:
How does it work at major aircraft places. Are the upholtery techs certified to work on the planes they dont own or operate?
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Yes, pretty much anyone can do it at a big shop. The regs say maintenance must be done by a "person" but the definition of "person" in FAR 1 states clearly that "person" includes corporations. So ironically you may not be legal as a one man aviation upholsterer, but if you work for a shop incorporated as such you can be legal. The certifications and return to services are handled by the shop, not by the individual. -Skip
 
Skip Miller said:
Yes, pretty much anyone can do it at a big shop.
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because the large FBOs have a director of maintenance who does the return to service entries. To make it short, every one works under their supervision.
 
Tom-D said:
because the large FBOs have a director of maintenance who does the return to service entries. To make it short, every one works under their supervision.
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There is no DOM where I work and lots of repair station authorized people can sign log entries.

Don't get stuck on the DOM term.

Key is that an FAA certificate holder must return work to service. Just about anyone can perform the work.

Certificate holder can be an individual acting alone and working for themselves, using their own certificate.

Certificate holder could be a repair station (company that holds an FAA certificate) who can employ both licensed and unlicensed individuals, some of those whom are authorized by the repair station policies to return to service using the repair station's certificate.
 
I've changed my own interiors 4 times with some assistance from my upholsterer buddy and without any help or involvement of a mechanic. My current interior has been copied a few times and I've coached guys how to do it. The FAA guys that have seen my interior are very complimentary. This ain't rocket science. My airplane's airworthiness is not contingent upon the interior. Put it in, take it out, paint it pink.... no problem.
 
Stewartb said:
I've changed my own interiors 4 times with some assistance from my upholsterer buddy and without any help or involvement of a mechanic. My current interior has been copied a few times and I've coached guys how to do it. The FAA guys that have seen my interior are very complimentary. This ain't rocket science. My airplane's airworthiness is not contingent upon the interior. Put it in, take it out, paint it pink.... no problem.
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Some hard nosed ASI, could make a issue of that, most find that it isn't worth the effort.
But your insurance companies might, read your insurance policy, the fine print can have a statement that your aircraft must be flown in an airworthy condition.
 
I'm wondering what if anything makes an aircraft un-airworthy if you removed say, a headliner or a side panel or a seat cover. Where is it written that upholstery is an integral part of the aircraft and therefore must be in place before one can legally fly an aircraft?
 
Timbeck2 said:
I'm wondering what if anything makes an aircraft un-airworthy if you removed say, a headliner or a side panel or a seat cover. Where is it written that upholstery is an integral part of the aircraft and therefore must be in place before one can legally fly an aircraft?
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Having a hard time seeing anyone complain about that assuming it doesn't impact weight & balance appreciably.

There are many things related to interiors that can render them unairworthy when you get to bigger airplanes. Such as a belted divan (couch) that can be occupied for takeoffs and landings would be unairworthy if crash pads were missing on any cabin dividers.
 
Timbeck2 said:
I'm wondering what if anything makes an aircraft un-airworthy if you removed say, a headliner or a side panel or a seat cover. Where is it written that upholstery is an integral part of the aircraft and therefore must be in place before one can legally fly an aircraft?
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Guy in the hangar next to me never puts his interior back in his 150 after annual... saves time for the next one.
 
ifly4fun said:
Guy in the hangar next to me never puts his interior back in his 150 after annual... saves time for the next one.
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Cessna 162 doesn't even have what I would call an interior.
 
Timbeck2 said:
Where is it written that upholstery is an integral part of the aircraft and therefore must be in place before one can legally fly an aircraft?
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In the production certificate.
This is how one model can be different from the others.
 
bnt83 said:
Having a hard time seeing anyone complain about that assuming it doesn't impact weight & balance appreciably.
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Really depends upon what was there to start with. You'd be surprised at what I find in aircraft. the materials I removed from My Fairchild weighed a bit over 100#
The old W&B verses the new was 250 # different. (lighter) lots of other things got eliminated.
 
Tom-D said:
Some hard nosed ASI, could make a issue of that, most find that it isn't worth the effort.
But your insurance companies might, read your insurance policy, the fine print can have a statement that your aircraft must be flown in an airworthy condition.
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Nope. All they say is "nice interior". No made-up internet argument BS, just the truth.
 
Stewartb said:
Nope. All they say is "nice interior". No made-up internet argument BS, just the truth.
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Like I said, "some don't think it's worth the effort". try to pass a compliance in section with out a return to service entry, or for that matter try to get a part 135 certificate with out one.
 
Tom-D said:
Some hard nosed ASI, could make a issue of that, most find that it isn't worth the effort.
But your insurance companies might, read your insurance policy, the fine print can have a statement that your aircraft must be flown in an airworthy condition.
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If someone follows the SIMPLE guide in the link I posted a ASI isn't going to have a leg to stand on, regardless of their level of effort


Tom-D said:
Really depends upon what was there to start with. You'd be surprised at what I find in aircraft. the materials I removed from My Fairchild weighed a bit over 100#
The old W&B verses the new was 250 # different. (lighter) lots of other things got eliminated.
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You had over 100 POUNDS OF SEAT FABRIC AND FOAM???????????

Because that is what we are talking about here.




Tom...

twilightzone.14283729_std.jpg
 
James331 said:
If someone follows the SIMPLE guide in the link I posted a ASI isn't going to have a leg to stand on, regardless of their level of effort




You had over 100 POUNDS OF SEAT FABRIC AND FOAM???????????

Because that is what we are talking about here.
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Don't you read the whole post ? sheeeze
 
Stewartb said:
My local shop that does my stuff also does State and Federal agency airplane interior work.
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That means nothing. The government can basically do whatever they want to those airplanes. We however cannot.
 
I've reported concisely what my experiences have been. How about you?
 
Stewartb said:
I've reported concisely what my experiences have been. How about you?
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Your experience seems limited at best and poor advice for someone looking at starting a shop who would be paid for services trying to feed themselves maybe a family and in the end being held responsible for their work. Negligence is bliss until an inspector starts digging and asking questions A brand new guy that has no aviation background would be toast, none of your experiences shared here would change it.
 
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tom is right, only the owner or operator can do PM. not somebody hired to do it. if you take the seats to a shop you are not PERFORMING PM your are contracting it. I personally agree that replacing is not repairing, but think what you will, bottom line is if you take it to someone to be done it needs a A&P to return it to service.

for johnny, you just need to have an A&P to work with you on it. that covers you legally. if someone gets checked by the FAA and they say, yea, i took them to johnny and he covered them and i put them back, the FAA could come after you for running an illegal repair station. but it you have an A&P blessing it you will be covered.

bob
 
bnt83 said:
Your experience seems limited at best and poor advice for someone looking at starting a shop who would be paid for services trying to feed themselves maybe a family and in the end being held responsible for their work. Negligence is bliss until an inspector starts digging and asking questions A brand new guy that has no aviation background would be toast, none of your experiences shared here would change it.
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My advice was very clear. You've offered nothing but conjecture. How many interiors have you done? How many 'problems' have you had?
 
Stewartb said:
My advice was very clear. You've offered nothing but conjecture. How many interiors have you done? How many 'problems' have you had?
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I've probably return to service more interior, cabin, wings, avionics, sheet metal, composites, alteration and repairs than everyone in this thread combined (last 5 years)
 
A legend in your mind. Carry on. But try telling real stories unstead on imagined ones. Or at least stop criticizing those who do.
 
Stewartb said:
A legend in your mind. Carry on. But try telling real stories unstead on imagined ones. Or at least stop criticizing those who do.
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There is at least one individual on here that knows me a lot better than you, where I work and what I do. You have haven't a clue.

Legend? Um no. That's clearly what you think you are.
 
bnt83 said:
I've probably return to service more interior, cabin, wings, avionics, sheet metal, composites, alteration and repairs than everyone in this thread combined (last 5 years)
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Great.. prove it,, show us pictures we would love to see the work.
 
Tom-D said:
Great.. prove it,, show us pictures we would love to see the work.
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If you are ever passing Lincoln Nebraska hit me up. I'll even give you a place to stay for free for a couple days. You are a mechanic so I'm sure you won't be disappointed spending a day on campus. Unfortunately I don't feel its appropriate to talk much about my day job much on the internet.
 
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bnt83 said:
If you are ever passing Lincoln Nebraska hit me up. I'll even give you a place to stay for free for a couple days. You are a mechanic so I'm sure you won't be disappointed spending a day on campus. Unfortunately I don't feel its appropriate to talk much about my day job much on the internet.
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secret_squirrel_by_topher147-d90yjj5.png
 
bnt83 said:
If you are ever passing Lincoln Nebraska hit me up. I'll even give you a place to stay for free for a couple days. You are a mechanic so I'm sure you won't be disappointed spending a day on campus. Unfortunately I don't feel its appropriate to talk much about my day job much on the internet.
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Who in the world would want to go to Lincoln Nebraska ?
Am I surprised at no pictures? No.
 
Tom-D said:
Who in the world would want to go to Lincoln Nebraska ?
Am I surprised at no pictures? No.
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IDK but the airplanes come from all over the world. Just take a drive down the ramp and google registration numbers.
 
Checkout_my_Six said:
spoken like a true pro....:D
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If you'd like, I'll load this page up with pictures of the stuff I've done.
When I tell you I've done something I can prove it.
But I do like the thought that you believe I'm an expert.
 
bnt83 said:
IDK but the airplanes come from all over the world. Just take a drive down the ramp and google registration numbers.
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That doesn't prove you did anything.
 
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