Canada to USA import Sonerai AWC experience?

[Aviacs]

Has anyone imported a Canadian built Sonerai (or other experimental) and acquired an Experimental - Amateur Built AWC?
Was there resistance? Any special notes? As opposed to E-exhibition, say?
2 years ago, before Covid, at time of acquisition i mentioned the project to our FSDO rep at a Wings program in our hangar, and he suggested Exhibition as being the easiest/quickest. At that time the airplane was not in the hangar for review so it was just a quick preliminary discussion.

Our EAA chapter has good relations with the local FSDO and the guys seem to like to visit our hangar.
Sept 1 we held our first Wings meeting since Covid, which was supposed to be about AWC's. In the event, re-scheduling exigencies at the FAA end resulted in a different set of reps arriving. They gave a great presentation and Q & A regarding airport & tower ops, and traffic control.;but were not the group familiar with mechanical subjects and airworthiness certificates.

If an E-AB trades hands in the US, it is still an E-AB; though the new owner can't perform the annual condition inspection.
However, when an airplane is imported, the AWC is lost. So the easy route for FAA is Experimental-Exhibition.
What ducks should be lined up to best influence the progression to E-AB?

I've re-connected in person with the FSDO rep and he is a great guy. We've agreed to talk by phone/email. Anyone who has experience, help me prep to pitch my case.

 

[Aviacs]

Just in case anyone ever searches or finds this post, who also needs the info:

I dug around on EAA members' forums and found a link to the controlling FAA document (AC 20-27G) for certifying Experimental aircraft. It is a long slog through 60 pages; it explicates the process for almost any situation. Including examples and sample documents.

https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/.../AC_20-27G.pdf

Pages 29 & 30 lay out the relevent information regarding imported Experimental airplanes, and what might or might not qualify for E-AB.


16. Certifying an Amateur-Built Aircraft Built Outside the United States and
Purchased By a U.S. Citizen.

Figure 5. Procedures the FAA Uses to Complete the Inspection
Review your documentation.

Determine whether the aircraft meets the major portion and
education/recreation requirements of § 21.191(g).

Advise you that the condition inspection on your aircraft can be
performed only by the original builder who holds the repairman’s
certificate for that aircraft or an FAA-certificated mechanic as
authorized by § 43.3, Persons authorized to perform maintenance,
preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alterations, per the
operating limitations.

Inspect the aircraft the same as any other amateur-built aircraft.

Determine whether the aircraft is eligible and the
inspection is satisfactory.
 Yes  No
Issue you FAA Form 8130-7
with appropriate operating
limitations.
Possibly require flight testing.

Hence many other sections of the document are relevent to the paper chase, but 16. essentially endorses the notion of E-AB if the other documentation (& airplane condition) comply.

This will take a while.

smt