Preparing Your Paperwork Before Arriving at a Shop
Too many times we get a glider for an annual and the logbook does not show up. This makes it very difficult to complete the paperwork. Many repair stations will not start the maintenance until the logbook is there and is up-to-date.
If the sailplane has a standard airworthiness certificate then you need an IA to do the annual inspection. If it has an experimental certificate then you need and A&P. The owner cannot do that inspection, unless they are the builder and have a "repairman certificate" then you can do the inspections for that sailplane. However, most of us are flying factory built experimental gliders.
Before you arrive you can get your paperwork in order. Many times there are multiple logbooks and it takes a lot of time for the mechanic to find that each AD was complied with. Having an AD summary list at the end of the logbook can save them a lot of time and you money. You could have the AD, applicable or not, date when completed, what corrective action was done, which logbook it can be found in. I am sure your mechanic will help get you started.
While you are in your list-making frame of mind I would have a similar list for SB's and Tech notes. Time-limited items can be hard to find digging through the logbooks and the maintenance manual, having a separate list for them is a good idea. Tost tow releases, seatbelts, ELT batteries, etc.
Having the required paperwork in the sailplane when it arrives is helpful too. Airworthiness, registration (current), program letter (if applicable), flight manual (if required), operating limitations (including the operating limitations paperwork required by FAR 91.319 for experimental). The operating limitations and manual will explain which placards are required.
While you are reviewing paperwork make sure your equipment list is correct, current Weight and Balance (in Europe many are weighed every 4 years or less), and maintenance manual is available.
Depending on your mechanic you might be able to remove the seat-pan and inspection covers. Lube all of the connections, vacuum, and clean everything that you can.
If you have an easy to follow list it allows the mechanic to spend time actually looking at the glider and not spending 4 hours going through 30 years of logbooks. I had a customer purchase a new to him sailplane and it took him about 10 hours to organize everything. With some shop rates exceeding $120/hr this can save you some money.
Garret Willat holds a flight instructor rating with over 8000 hours in sailplanes. His parents have owned Sky Sailing Inc. since 1979. He started instructing the day after his 18th birthday. Since then, Garret has represented the US Junior team in 2003 and 2005. He graduated from Embry-Riddle with a bachelor's degree in Professional Aeronautics. Garret represented the US Open Class team in 2008 and 2010 and the Club Class team in 2014. Garret has won 3 US National Championships.
