NCPilot wrote:What's involved in becoming a Rotax authorized mechanic? I ask because I would like to be able to work on my own Rotax engine, and maybe work on others in my area for a profit.
If you're already an A&P or LSRM, it's pretty simple. There are three levels of Rotax certification, each with its own training course: service level, light maintenance, and heavy maintenance. Each of the three is a weekend course, offered at a number of different locations (Lockwood Aviation in Sebring FL, and CA Power Systems in Hayward CA, are the two leading ones). Each course costs a few hundred dollars.
FWIW, the Service level course covers line maintenance items (oil changes, carb synchronization, compression checks, etc.) Light maintenance involves tearing the engine down all the way to the crankcase, removing all cylinders and accessories, and reassembling it. Heavy maintenance lets you split the case, and do crankshaft and camshaft swaps, plus bearings. I chose to take the first two courses only, since if my engine ever requires splitting the case, I'll just buy a new one.
If you're not already an FAA licensed AMT, you'll probably have to take the 120-hour course for the Light Sport Repairman Certificate with a Maintenance rating (LSRM). That rating will allow you to sign off annual/100 hour condition inspections on any LSA. I know of only two places where this is offered at the moment: a community college in Virginia, and Rainbow Aviation in Northern CA. The place in VA does the course during summer term only (I think they run about 8 weeks). Rainbow offers half a dozen courses a year, all 3-week fulltime. Rainbow also takes their show on the road, to Oshkosh and possibly other locations.
I did the Rotax and LSRM classes all at the same time, about a year ago (repairman course M-F for three weeks, with engine training on the weekends in between). Total cost was right at $7k, for tuition, books, rental car, lodging, meals, and airfare. If I keep working to age 95 (I'm 65 right now), I might just break even.
Once you have the LSRM, your logged experience (even if under your own supervision) counts toward eligibility to take the A&P practical and written exams, should you ever decide you want that rating. I think you can sit for the A&P exams 18 months after you get your LSRM.
I should note that all the folks in my LSRM course were graybeards like myself, with decades of experience. Someone lacking an extensive mechanical background would probably be hard-pressed to learn enough in 3 concentrated weeks of study to make a competent mechanic.