Backcountry Pilot • Field approvals for skis

Field approvals for skis

Two of the best inventions ever, skis and airplanes, together.
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Field approvals for skis

Trickair...they're nice and fat for flotation, but I heard from someone that they are heavy in comparison to other brands/models. For the PA-22 tailwheeler they have the Alaskan 2500. I could also use these for the Bearhawk if I ever complete it. BUT...Trickair now wants $12K for a pair, up from $7K in 2019.

Summit Aircraft Skis (now owned buy CC) has a 2300 model, no idea the price. But in the certified world, skis are skis, like floats are floats. They float on water or snow, and all the difficulty/fuss is in the rigging and the paper. We all know the differences between a Pacer and Cub, but for the most part the methods for rigging and the required performance are the same.

So has anyone ever tried for a ski field approval for a similar make model? As an example of "it doesn't hurt to try," I was granted a field approval for a Sensenich wood-composite prop for which no STC exists for the PA-22-150. BUT, I provided an STC reference for the same prop for the O-360 PA-22 and one for the PA-12-150. Somehow the PMI saw my logic, and even though he sent it up to the Seattle ACO, they approved it.

So...any luck with skis?
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Re: Field approvals for skis

While living in North Pole, my neighbor had a tricked out converted PA-20 that came out of the factory as a 22 and converted. Standard Cat. He ran Northland wood skis with great results that I personally witnessed as we did a lot of ice fishing together. I never looked at his paperwork, but I assumed they were approved via FA. I could be wrong. The tail number is 7300D. You can get the CD for its records from the FAA.
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Re: Field approvals for skis

I have TrickAirs on my Taylorcraft F21 that I got a FA for about 8 years ago. They are great. Now they are expensive. My son has a 180hp Pacer that he would like skis for but they have gone way up in price

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Re: Field approvals for skis

Zzz wrote:Trickair...they're nice and fat for flotation, but I heard from someone that they are heavy in comparison to other brands/models. For the PA-22 tailwheeler they have the Alaskan 2500. I could also use these for the Bearhawk if I ever complete it. BUT...Trickair now wants $12K for a pair, up from $7K in 2019.

Summit Aircraft Skis (now owned buy CC) has a 2300 model, no idea the price. But in the certified world, skis are skis, like floats are floats. They float on water or snow, and all the difficulty/fuss is in the rigging and the paper. We all know the differences between a Pacer and Cub, but for the most part the methods for rigging and the required performance are the same.

So has anyone ever tried for a ski field approval for a similar make model? As an example of "it doesn't hurt to try," I was granted a field approval for a Sensenich wood-composite prop for which no STC exists for the PA-22-150. BUT, I provided an STC reference for the same prop for the O-360 PA-22 and one for the PA-12-150. Somehow the PMI saw my logic, and even though he sent it up to the Seattle ACO, they approved it.

So...any luck with skis?


Zane, I will connect you with my friend Mike, who founded Summit Skis. I know that he has gotten field approvals on Cubs in the past.
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