Question for those of you with AeroLEDs regarding how the installation was documented.

I now have a 182G and am installing the certified versions of the Sunspot 36 LX landing and taxi lights, Pulsar NSP, Suntail and two Sunbeacons. One Sunbeacon is on the tail and the second was added to the belly. The landing and taxi are covered by their STC. The repair station the plane is at says the other items need a 337 field approval because the nature is a major modification. The AeroLED rep I spoke to yesterday says the requirement is a logbook entry as a minor alteration. The wiring is new to accommodate these lights.

What is the correct path forward based on the scenario above?

Thanks for your time.

I did the Pulsar and Suntail with a logbook entry. Two different FSDOs said it was a minor alteration. AC 43-210A gives good guidance on this.

For what it's worth, I just did a Whelen Orion 650 kit installation on my 185. I was replacing the standard incandescent strobe/nav lights along with the position light in the tail.

Installation was straight forward as others have said, getting to the inside tip of the tailcone to get nuts on the back side of the position light assembly was a challenge. Several long socket extensions and holding your nose just right...

The other challenge is knowing how much to trim the plastic fairings that come with the kit. After the first one, I learned not to overthink it and just get it somewhat flush with the wingtip. Screwing the strobe/nav light assembly down takes out whatever gap is left over.

This project allowed for the removal of 2 lbs of strobe power supply removal.

I didn't have the sync wire to hook up, and unless there is a need to get into the wings to run more wiring, I won't likely add it.

The one thing that sticks out is that the position lights (and strobes for that matter) are directional. The incandescent bulbs and lenses produced a nice uniform light that could be seen from nearly directly behind the airplane. The Orion LED position lights illuminate out the front of the assembly, but can't be seen from about 30 degrees left of right of the tail from behind the airplane.

Overall a fairly easy project, saves a couple pounds, and adds some future maintenance relief, presumably.

Overall I'm fairly happy with the installation.

Thanks for the feedback on the Whelen product and the AC 43-210A document. I passed along the reference to AC 43-210A to the shop with my conclusion that the flowcharts guide toward a logbook and not a field approval level of documentation. I also requested that they touch base with their FSDO contact and the manufacturer. Will see where this goes. Just a matter of direction.

On the basis of the certified TSO product and the experience of others here, the ‘major’ alteration discussion caught me by surprise. Hence my post here to check in with the BCP crew. I’ve gone counter to their typical manufacturer preference for these lights and the engine monitor so it could just be their thought process of how to work with something unfamiliar.

It’s all good. Looking forward to many hours of bright and flashy LEDs. Thanks.