I am thinking about getting a turbine powered helicopter. From talking to Rob and what I have read on the AMA web site, all you local fixed wing turbine flyiers can't do the sign off on a rotor wing turbine wavier. Correct???

Is the wavier required to fly at the club field or just at "events"? Is there some sort of learner permit/policy?

Regardless of the type of airframe it's mounted in, I would think the basics of safe turbine opertaion would be the same and the local knowledge base could be used. Things like proper set up, programing, start up and shut down procedures. Am I correct in this assumption?

According to the ama doc for tubine heli's, You need to be signed off by...

I have successfully completed the qualification test flight for turbine-powered model helicopters under the supervision of two experienced turbine pilots, one of whom is a Designated Helicopter Contest Director.

I should stay out of this, Larry... But... I can't help it...

I went to google and typed in RC turbine waiver AMA and got a lot of info.
Seems the most recently dated document regarding this subject is this one, effective July 26, 2008.
http://www.modelaircraft.org/PDF-files/510-A.pdf

Here are a couple of excepts from that document:
"An AMA member may be permitted to fly a turbine powered model on the slave transmitter of a buddy box as long as the master transmitter is operated by an experienced waiver affidavit holder. All waiver affidavit applicants should have accomplished at least 50 flights on a high performance model."

The next one answers one of your specific questions about rotary wing turbine sign-off requirements.

"The pilot will successfully perform a qualification flight consisting of all flight maneuvers from the Turbine Applicant Flight Demonstration under the supervision of two experienced turbine pilots, one of whom is a contest director. A Designated Helicopter Contest Director is required for rotary wing applicants."

More AMA documents regarding turbines here:
http://www.rcturbine.com/html/ama_waivers.html

Exactly. I was just looking under the other ama docs to see what all is required...

This all makes my head hurt! :banghead: Maybe I'll just go with a gasser instead.

No, don't, Larry! Get a turbine!!! :yes:

Andy is a CD. And so is Rob, I believe.
Both Rob and Jon are experienced turbine pilots. (For waiver purposes, the AMA defines "experienced turbine pilot" as one who has 50 turbine flights behind his belt.)

The way I interpret some of that gobbledygook, you just need to have a Helicopter Contest Director for your final flight demos, along with Jon or Rob.

But then — what do I know about turbine jets?... :huh: