MD-90 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 8227 posts, RR: 15 Posted (11 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 1685 times:
If you have a non-heavy airplane (gross weight 12,500 lbs. or under), like the Piaggio P-180 Avanti (max gross 11,550 lbs.), can you upgrade it's avionics without costly recertification, just like if you added a full Garmin suite to a Cessna 182? The Piaggio has a Collins 85B avionics suite, which is kind of old. How much would it cost to upgrade?
Thanks to anyone who's willing to even attempt to answer this one.
Aaron atp From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 533 posts, RR: 3 Reply 1, posted (11 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 1618 times:
you wouldn't need recertification per se, but you would need to use a supplemental type certificate or a receive a field approval, which could become a hassle.
For what you've described, the Avanti would probably use an STC and the C182 would use a Field Approval.
If a manufacturer offers an entire suite for a specific aircraft, they have probably gone to the expense of obtaining an STC for that upgrade. If you wanted to add a panel mounted GPS to your aircraft, you'd need to to get a Field Approval (Form 337) from the local FSDO. There is a huge list of things that cannot receive a field approval however (e.g. things that change fundamental aircraft & handling characteristics).
That doesn't mean every part you might add to a certified aircraft needs a STC or Field Approval, because there may be a TSO or PMA for such new & improved parts.
I know of a few people who have their mechanic put the old avionics back into their aircraft before each inspection to bypass the hassle of dealing with the FAA.
MD11Nut From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (11 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 1606 times:
>>That doesn't mean every part you might add to a certified aircraft needs a STC or Field Approval, because there may be a TSO or PMA for such new & improved parts.
Actually,from my dealings with the FAA, anything new, TSO part or PMA parts that you might add to certified aircraft needs an STC or a 337 Field Approval. Non-TSO/PMA/PC parts are illegal to be installed.
>>I know of a few people who have their mechanic put the old avionics back into their aircraft before each inspection to bypass the hassle of dealing with the FAA.
This, I suspect because the installations on their aircraft are illegal as far as FAA is concerned. This is, however, is going on quite a bit...That's why it's hard to find aircraft owners out there willing to go through an STC or 337 that requires flight test because the aircraft has to be put through an experimental certificate and conformity inspection is required.
MD-90 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 8227 posts, RR: 15 Reply 3, posted (11 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 1609 times:
Since the Piaggio P-180 is a rather rare aircraft (only 10 in North America and 13 in Europe), I doubt there are many STC's available. That's the advantage of owning a Citation. There're all kinds of mods you can make on them.
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