Marco Leon wrote:
Apparently, installation of the Airgizmo panel dock is quite the touchy
subject up here in the Northeast. I know this has been a subject of a
number of threads but I figured I'd relay my experience so far. Since I
would like it integrated with my Garmin 430 and 340 audio panel (for
the audio out), I'd really rather have a pro do it.

First I contacted the local FSDO located on my home field (KFRG) and
talked to the avionics guy to solicit his point of view. His view was
that it was a VFR install and as such, it only needed a logbook
entry--no 337. However, he stressed that all the FSDO's are different
on this subject and I would need to contact the installer to get their
FSDO's take. He recommended getting a 337 anyway just in case. Fair
enough, makes sense to me.

After contacting the local shops, I quickly realize that none of the
Conn. shops will touch it and neither will the shops in Westshester or
New Jersey. All their FSDO's are dead set against the install. Well,
there goes the convenience of being local. An independent guy will do
the install in Rhode Island but I am hesitant because he has not done
any of these installs and at $70/hr, I don't feel like paying for his
schooling. Islip Avionics in Long Island was just rude ("so, where's
your paperwork on the thing? You got an STC? You talked to my FSDO?
Tell me the name of the guy. I don't need his phone number I just want
to see if you know the guy's name") and besides, they were $115/hr vs.
$70 everywhere else. That was the closest I've been in a while to
telling someone I don't know to f**k off.

That leaves Pennsylvania as the closest. I have a quote from Penn
Avionics and I'm trying to get a day to go there. They've done a number
of these already and know exactly what I want and their prices are not
bad. Their FSDO is OK with it as a logbook entry but they can do the
field approval for some extra $$. They also brought up a good point in
that if I get a 337 to cover me "just in case," I'll need another 337
to take it out if I sell the plane and want to keep the 496.

If anyone in the northeast area has had better success, I'd be
interested in a PIREP.

Jay, If you're reading, you had it easy with Atlas!

Marco


I haven't installed one, don't even have a 396/496 yet, but I did some
asking around as well, and got about the same answers you got. Seems
the FSDO that serves Connecticut not only won't approve them, but will
ramp any plane he sees them in and tag it as an unapproved mod. His
issue is apparently with it being PVC it won't pass the burn test for
interior furnishings (I didn't know that applied to anything other than
the fabric, but that's beside the point). I'll bet the royalite panel
overlay that is factory original won't pass the burn test either and
will generate just as much toxic fumes if ignited as that air gizmo
will. One of the Connecticut shops said that they have made sheet metal
holders similar in appearance and function to the air-gizmo, and that
there is no problem getting those past the FSDO, but the plastic ones
won't fly. He suggested a RAM mount bolted to the panel (which I think
looks clunky) as an alternative that is considerably cheaper than making
a metal Air-gizmo.