Legal Radio Installation

However, from what I've
heard from a close friend, who owns an avionics shop, the FAA has
dictated that all FSDOs require a field approval for ALL GPS
installations, IFR or VFR. It's bull ****, but apparently, that's what
they want. Don't ask me why.

--- Jay (in Baltimore and/or Washington FSDO, depending on where I am)




WRONG.........

As chief inspector of a maintenance and avionics shop, I *TOLD* the Baltimore
FSDO's avionics inspector that all VFR GPS installations we did would be done
in accordance with AC20-138A and would be minor alterations.

Remember folks, A&P's/IA's/repair stations interpert the regulations and FSDO's
enforce the regulations. If a FSDO inspector takes you to task for something
you've read, interperted, and done, insist that he/she supply you with
REGULATORY INFORMATION that refutes your opinion (and keep an open mind).

I know that ALL the avionics shops under the Baltimore FSDO are on the same
page, because my director of maintenance and I, with the help of AEA, organized
several meetings with the avionics shop personnel and the FSDO to iron this
issue out.

On 23 May 2004 11:01:37 GMT, ospam (JohnN3TWN)
wrote:

However, from what I've
heard from a close friend, who owns an avionics shop, the FAA has
dictated that all FSDOs require a field approval for ALL GPS
installations, IFR or VFR. It's bull ****, but apparently, that's what
they want. Don't ask me why.

--- Jay (in Baltimore and/or Washington FSDO, depending on where I am)




WRONG.........

As chief inspector of a maintenance and avionics shop, I *TOLD* the Baltimore
FSDO's avionics inspector that all VFR GPS installations we did would be done
in accordance with AC20-138A and would be minor alterations.

Remember folks, A&P's/IA's/repair stations interpert the regulations and FSDO's
enforce the regulations. If a FSDO inspector takes you to task for something
you've read, interperted, and done, insist that he/she supply you with
REGULATORY INFORMATION that refutes your opinion (and keep an open mind).

I know that ALL the avionics shops under the Baltimore FSDO are on the same
page, because my director of maintenance and I, with the help of AEA, organized
several meetings with the avionics shop personnel and the FSDO to iron this
issue out.


Can IFR GPS installations be done as minor alterations also under
AC20-138a? If not, does 138a at least simplify the 337 process?

Can IFR GPS installations be done as minor alterations also under
AC20-138a? If not, does 138a at least simplify the 337 process?


No, and that is due primarily to the flight manual supplement that is required.
AC20-138A does make it pretty simple however.

So, an IFR GPS installation is done in two steps, first the VFR installation
(log book entry only) then, second, the 337 is filed with the flight manual
supplement and flight test information.

Gerry Caron wrote:
: The only break you get is the AC. It describes "a means, but not the only
: means of showing compliance..." Read it. Understand it. Follow it.

Trouble is, our FSDO doesn't agree with the AC and still consideres a simple
VFR GPS installation to be a major alteration (citing some FAR that I wasn't privy
to). Yet another example of a conflict between the rules... both are right, but the
come to a different conclusion.

Bottom line is never as the FAA or it's FSDO representatives what they think.
You're almost certainly not going to like what they say, and then you're committed.

-Cory

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