I tried to keep it short, but I can’t. I’ve got two experiences, two years apart, that demonstrate to me that the Denver FSDO goes out of their way, as a culture, to make it hard for E-AB aircraft owners. So the question is, who cares?
No seriously, who cares? I mean, there is an inspector general of course...I’m sure they look into criminal matters and matters of malfeasance...perhaps they could find some nuggets in the folks who claim to work 4 - 10 hour shifts, yet are unavailable before 10am and after 3pm...but I doubt that will go anywhere.
I want to know if there is a “boss” that actually gives a ****, who cares to know how awful this office is?
2 years ago, I was literally greeted, for an appointment I had made two weeks prior, with, “We can’t do that today...we’re about to go home”. This was before we even made it into the “secure” facility as we have to be escorted from outside the gate. We were literally still walking inside. My ridiculous request? The one I made the appointment for two weeks prior? An N number change, and the corresponding OP lims update.
A month ago, I took a deep breath to make the same appointment. Actually, I started with the lady who finally helped me the first time—I emailed her directly. Of course, she’s been promoted, because she wasn’t awful, but she gave me some tips as to how to make the experience go smoother.
1.). Call and make an appointment, and ask for the name of the inspector, their phone number, and their email address. Email them in advance all the documentation, and be clear what you want.
REALITY: Lady on the phone gave me the name, refused other contact info. said they often trade shifts on “walk ins” so I’d be wasting my time. Hmmm...walk ins? Nope, doesn’t an appointment mean anything? Nope, their whole attitude is that “walk ins” are an inconvenience...and it shows.
2.) Did my own homework, and made some calls and dropped some emails. Get phone call from inspector #1. He doesn’t know how to change an N number. His job is something else. He’s always getting stuck with “walk ins”. He punts me to inspector #2, on the auspice of his desire to “learn from the one who has done it”
3.) Show up for appointment. Pour on all my public servant charm. They say, “this is gonna take a while,”. I smile, “ I’ve got all afternoon, shall I sit here?” (Gesturing to chair in front of cubicle)
4.) 1.5 hrs later they check in. airworthiness is done. Having a problem with printer. Somehow, they can print special airworthiness, but not ops lims. (Odd, as it’s now the same document). Get special airworthiness, only op lim attached is that I’m experimental. I probably should have taken it and ran.
5.). The original inspector tells me all this, and says inspector #2 will call me the next day. He reiterates—don’t call me, this is number 2’s deal. Call him
6.) four business days later I call. Leave message
7.) 7 days later leave message, also leave message for #1
8.) 10 days later leave message
9.) 12 days later leave message, and inspectors phone rings through to his cell phone...leave message.
99.) 20 days later, I leave my first nasty message for both inspectors, and re email the original helpful lady.
100.) Inspector #1 calls, tells me 50 reasons why I should not be calling him and it is not his fault...but also makes excuses. each one would have been an awesome 2 or 3 day excuse, but not a three week excuse. He hates this response. gives me supervisor number. not for HIS supervisor, but for supervisor of inspector #2.
101.) Call supervisor. He’s on vacation, but it rings his cell. He assures me he will take care of it.
102.) Inspector #1 emails me special airworthiness and ops lims. Tells me he has ”volunteered to help” because he cares. A few issues with ops lims (took away night vfr, ifrwith proper equipment, left test area ambiguous)
103.) Inspector #1 finishes the job after one phone call of me explaining discrepancies and referencing my original op lims, and makes them right-ish. Still ambiguous on major change test area.
SOOOOOO.....If it can be done in 4 hours after raising holy ****...why can’t it be done in three weeks by being nice?
I’m not a jerk, and I don’t like channeling that guy. But dear God...there is ZERO accountability for these government workers, and their disdain for general aviation, or at least E-AB is sickening.
Does EAA have any good relationships here? AOPA?
**** Im scared to death now that I was so unreasonable as to demand proper and legal paperwork for my aircraft that I’ll have suits following my ADSB to slam me for some paperwork violation in the future!
If my business doesn’t give my customers what they need...those customers simply go somewhere else. I lose.
We don’t have an option...it’s not like I can go to FSDO-B and ask for the same stuff.
Geez I’m glad I don’t have to do this often.
No seriously, who cares? I mean, there is an inspector general of course...I’m sure they look into criminal matters and matters of malfeasance...perhaps they could find some nuggets in the folks who claim to work 4 - 10 hour shifts, yet are unavailable before 10am and after 3pm...but I doubt that will go anywhere.
I want to know if there is a “boss” that actually gives a ****, who cares to know how awful this office is?
2 years ago, I was literally greeted, for an appointment I had made two weeks prior, with, “We can’t do that today...we’re about to go home”. This was before we even made it into the “secure” facility as we have to be escorted from outside the gate. We were literally still walking inside. My ridiculous request? The one I made the appointment for two weeks prior? An N number change, and the corresponding OP lims update.
A month ago, I took a deep breath to make the same appointment. Actually, I started with the lady who finally helped me the first time—I emailed her directly. Of course, she’s been promoted, because she wasn’t awful, but she gave me some tips as to how to make the experience go smoother.
1.). Call and make an appointment, and ask for the name of the inspector, their phone number, and their email address. Email them in advance all the documentation, and be clear what you want.
REALITY: Lady on the phone gave me the name, refused other contact info. said they often trade shifts on “walk ins” so I’d be wasting my time. Hmmm...walk ins? Nope, doesn’t an appointment mean anything? Nope, their whole attitude is that “walk ins” are an inconvenience...and it shows.
2.) Did my own homework, and made some calls and dropped some emails. Get phone call from inspector #1. He doesn’t know how to change an N number. His job is something else. He’s always getting stuck with “walk ins”. He punts me to inspector #2, on the auspice of his desire to “learn from the one who has done it”
3.) Show up for appointment. Pour on all my public servant charm. They say, “this is gonna take a while,”. I smile, “ I’ve got all afternoon, shall I sit here?” (Gesturing to chair in front of cubicle)
4.) 1.5 hrs later they check in. airworthiness is done. Having a problem with printer. Somehow, they can print special airworthiness, but not ops lims. (Odd, as it’s now the same document). Get special airworthiness, only op lim attached is that I’m experimental. I probably should have taken it and ran.
5.). The original inspector tells me all this, and says inspector #2 will call me the next day. He reiterates—don’t call me, this is number 2’s deal. Call him
6.) four business days later I call. Leave message
7.) 7 days later leave message, also leave message for #1
8.) 10 days later leave message
9.) 12 days later leave message, and inspectors phone rings through to his cell phone...leave message.
99.) 20 days later, I leave my first nasty message for both inspectors, and re email the original helpful lady.
100.) Inspector #1 calls, tells me 50 reasons why I should not be calling him and it is not his fault...but also makes excuses. each one would have been an awesome 2 or 3 day excuse, but not a three week excuse. He hates this response. gives me supervisor number. not for HIS supervisor, but for supervisor of inspector #2.
101.) Call supervisor. He’s on vacation, but it rings his cell. He assures me he will take care of it.
102.) Inspector #1 emails me special airworthiness and ops lims. Tells me he has ”volunteered to help” because he cares. A few issues with ops lims (took away night vfr, ifrwith proper equipment, left test area ambiguous)
103.) Inspector #1 finishes the job after one phone call of me explaining discrepancies and referencing my original op lims, and makes them right-ish. Still ambiguous on major change test area.
SOOOOOO.....If it can be done in 4 hours after raising holy ****...why can’t it be done in three weeks by being nice?
I’m not a jerk, and I don’t like channeling that guy. But dear God...there is ZERO accountability for these government workers, and their disdain for general aviation, or at least E-AB is sickening.
Does EAA have any good relationships here? AOPA?
**** Im scared to death now that I was so unreasonable as to demand proper and legal paperwork for my aircraft that I’ll have suits following my ADSB to slam me for some paperwork violation in the future!
If my business doesn’t give my customers what they need...those customers simply go somewhere else. I lose.
We don’t have an option...it’s not like I can go to FSDO-B and ask for the same stuff.
Geez I’m glad I don’t have to do this often.
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