(Paul Tomblin) wrote in message ...
David Megginson and I were discussing the avionics the other day, and we
had a very strange thought.

We know that radios can be pulled out and swapped, usually with a single
screw. Would it be possible to buy a single approach certified GPS, like
a Garmin 530 or something, and put trays in multiple planes, so you could
get the installation certified in each plane, and share the GPS between
the planes?

I don't think there's any legal reason against it.

Personally, I would rather share my underwear or my toothbrush.
I speak from experience here.

We have only an older IFR-certified GPS which is barely
customizable. But it *is* supposed to be able to be operated
out of the plane for training purposes, and initially we tried
that a few times. But Gremlins emerged; the CDI would only go
1/2 way on one side, altitude encoding stop reading, etc. All
traced to flecks of dust or crap on the contacts.

Then I slipped on ice on my way to the plane one time, and
dropped it. Well-sealed into a well padded box so no harms,
but still, YIKES.

Now it stays in the plane, and if we need to sit in the plane
and page through the thing until the battery runs down to
re-fam with it, So Be It.

Cheers,
Sydney