Is your aircraft certified or experimental?



Here's an article from AOPA on the subject:

http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsite...0201parts.html
Don't take panel-mount option out of portable GPS, AOPA tells FAA
Think your portable GPS would work great mounted to your old Cessna
172's instrument panel? If the FAA has its way, you won't be able to
mount it. The parts — panel dock and connective wiring — needed to
mount your portable GPS would either no longer be available or be too
expense to buy.

The FAA's proposal would make it illegal for manufacturers to produce
a replacement or modification part if they know (or should know) the
part would end up installed in a certified aircraft — that is unless
they obtain production approval from the agency. But that costs tens
of thousands of dollars, something many companies can't afford.

While AOPA agrees production approval is necessary for critical parts
like connecting rods and cylinders, it isn't needed for non-critical
parts like a portable GPS panel dock or traffic detector that enhance
pilot safety.

"This [rule] would basically require any person who manufactures a
part, like a light bulb, smoke detector, entertainment system, or
other non-critical part that has not been identified as a 'standard or
commercial part' to obtain a production approval from the FAA if the
part is to be installed in a type-certificated product," Gutierrez
said in formal comments opposing the proposed rule.

Also under the rule, parts listed on the design approval for one
aircraft couldn't be used as a replacement in another aircraft.

For example, let's say Cessna installs GE light bulbs in the
aircraft's instrument panel and lists the bulb in its design approval.
Well, you wouldn't be able to use that same type of light bulb to
replace the burned out one in your old Bonanza.

These proposals "would substantially increase the cost of general
aviation parts and unnecessarily stifle the development and
availability of safety and operational enhancement modifications,"
Gutierrez told the FAA. "AOPA requests that the FAA revise this
proposal to ensure that replacement and modification parts remain
affordable and available to GA aircraft owners."

February 1, 2007


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AOPA's response to FAA NPRM: Docket No. FAA-2006-25877; Notice of
Proposed Ruelmaking; Production and Airworthiness Approvals, Part
Marking, and Miscellaneous Proposals:

http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsite...rts-letter.pdf

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Enter docket number 25877 he
http://dms.dot.gov/search/searchFormSimple.cfm

And you can read the NPRM and comments.

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http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/...M_Briefing.ppt
http://search.google.dot.gov/FAA/FAA...ntend&oe=UTF-8

Summary of Proposals

14 CFR Part 45 Continued
New Part Marking Requirements
Manufacturer & Part Number Req?d
Delete ?FAA-PMA? Markings
Delete ?installation eligibility? ? PMA

Project Status

Currently On Track ?
NPRM and Implementation Advisory Circulars Available for Comment at
http://dms.dot.gov, docket numbers 25877 and 25882

Final Rule to be published by April, 2008

Effective Date of Final Rule is set for October, 2009
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