On Mar 22, 1:03*pm, "HL Falbaum" wrote:
"noel.wade" wrote in message

...



Here are some questions that help clarify the answers to this issue:
(as annoying as this can be)

1) Is a radio "required" equipment for a day-VFR flight?
(which covers 99.99% of all Glider flying; at least in the USA)

2) How is the glider in question certified (standard vs.
experimental)?

What do the FARs say about items #1 and #2 above? *More importantly,
what do they _not_ say about radios?
(Hint: see 91.205, the sections of Part 91 that apply to the airspace
you expect to fly in/through, and Part 43).

--Noel
P.S. *Don't forget this "gotcha": *Your weight and balance is
technically affected by instrument changes in the cockpit. *See the
FARs about how you can re-calculate your W&B based on an "equipment
list" and the instrument location (i.e. Arm or Datum point).
Insurance companies or FAA inspectors may not look kindly on an
incorrect equipment list or a W&B that doesn't take new items - like
radios - into account.

Just a reminder---
The FAA and the FCC have someting to say about this. Many radios that were
found in gliders a few years ago are no longer legal for the FCC. Has to do
with channel separation and stability. I don't recall the details anymore,
but be wary of 360 channel radios and old radios.

Hartley Falbaum

The 360 channel radio issue is very old news and since the aircraft
under discussion is type certificated a A&P/radio shop will not
install some old junker 360 channel radio. The radios that replaced
the old 360 channel radios have 720 channel/25 KHz spacing. That is
what most of us fly with now.

However this does raise potential confusion since there is another
change kicking around in VHF radio specifications to 8.33 KHz channel
spacing. With changes in Europe and elsewhere to this 8KHz spacing
(required above certain flight levels) you are starting to see
affordable radios appear with this spacing capability. The upcoming
Becker AR 6201 that replaces the 4201 is an example of that, with
selectable 8/25kHz spacing. But no we relay don't need to worry about
this in the USA. Still if I was in the market I'd be trying to wait
for the AR 6201 (for other reasons than 8kHz capability, like dual
frequency monitoring, compact size, etc.).

As for FCC "equipment authorization" go to
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/ea/fccid/ and for example type in B54, the code
for Becker avionics, to see all the FCC approved devices.

Darryl