Worth the Squeeze? - Subscribe to Savvy Aviation

The FAA imposes a lot more burdens on owners of certificated aircraft than they do on owners of experimental amateur-built (E-AB) aircraft. Certificated aircraft require an IA to inspect and bless them every 12 months, may only use FAA-approved parts, and any major alteration requires FAA-approved data (usually an STC) and IA blessing. Is the safety benefit of certificated aircraft worth the additional regulatory burden?