My IA and I are knee deep in the paperwork now for the Skywagon project in preparation for its first flight and thought this might be of interest...

The thoughts on the "legality" of using Air Gizmos (and other mounts) are all over the place. Some want just a log entry, while others insist on getting field approvals.

Here is an interesting Policy Statement that has now cleared it up. There are some guidelines, but it seems that you can now install any mount with just a log book entry, even if there is no STC or the mount is not PMA'd. (please read and use your own judgement)

Greg-

http://www.backcountrypilot.org/images/documents/PS-ACE-23-01.pdf

Thanks for posting this Greg. I would love to hear what others think too.

I plan on installing an airgizmo dock in the near future.

My IA filled in a big blank spot in the panel with the Air Gizmo for my Garmin 396. He was comfortable with just the log book entry.

Gump

Ditto. Common sense suggests this is NOT an avionics installation in the true sense. A logbook entry is all that SHOULD be required, and all that was done on my airplane. As advised by the FSDO.

MTV

Agreed. Totally true. But lots of FISDOs are forcing FA's. Furthermore, the Airgizmos products are not PMA'd thereby further gumming up the works. No doubt any AP can "log book" anything, but that doesnt make it "legal." the issue was, (like anything) without the PMA and no STC, it wasnt allowed w/out the FA.

Lets not get into a FA vs/ logbook debate cuz we all have read that over and over. The point of the Policy Statement was to let particularly uncooperative AP's. IA's and especially Feds know to leave it alone. An Airgizmo install should be a logbook entry, and now it officially is. This is a good thing.

And now I know what "must", "should", and "recommend" really means. Excellent.

bigrenna wrote:Agreed. Totally true. But lots of FISDOs are forcing FA's. Furthermore, the Airgizmos products are not PMA'd thereby further gumming up the works. No doubt any AP can "log book" anything, but that doesnt make it "legal." the issue was, (like anything) without the PMA and no STC, it wasnt allowed w/out the FA.

Lets not get into a FA vs/ logbook debate cuz we all have read that over and over. The point of the Policy Statement was to let particularly uncooperative AP's. IA's and especially Feds know to leave it alone. An Airgizmo install should be a logbook entry, and now it officially is. This is a good thing.

That's well and good, and this is indeed a good piece of work.

That said, if you don't believe that a FSDO or Inspector could still read that as saying you CANNOT install something like an Air Gizmo, you haven't met enough FSDO personnel

It is STILL up to the A/P or IA to decide what's minor and what's major. Hopefully, this will encourage a few more to be brave enough to exercise that authority.

Good news either way.

MTV

mtv wrote:
That said, if you don't believe that a FSDO or Inspector could still read that as saying you CANNOT install something like an Air Gizmo, you haven't met enough FSDO personnel

It is STILL up to the A/P or IA to decide what's minor and what's major.

MTV

Well, no shiz a misguided inspector could read any document and get it sideways before the first comma but thats not what he's saying - or anyone else.

"The mounting device installation, including the PED system power and data connectivity may
be considered a minor alteration." ...when done properly... is the latest guidance from the FAA.

Use your brain, make an entry in the logs, carry-on.

I dealt with all this recently installing a new inst. panel in my cub. The plan was to install a F.A.Dodge fab'ed panel, at the same time moving the switches and cb's from the wing root to the instrument panel. It's a simple and common alteration that many have done on a supercub without a field approval.

I tried and tried to convince my IA that this was a minor alteration and does not need a FA, but he called our local FSDO and asked (our PMI for our employers spray business), he said it needed a FA...done deal now Now all the paperwork begins, with the 337 and all the block 8(?) explanations and wiring diagrams and part numbers, etc. kind of a pain in the ass, but at the same time it was a good learning experience for me. At least I never have to worry about explaining a custom panel to a ramp inspector.

I guess the bottom line is whatever your IA is comfortable with will decide the course of action. He will be signing off future annuals. I wouldn't have worried about it either way...but it's only my wallet on the line (making it legal if needed) and not my IA ticket. YMMV