PIREP - Garmin GTX-327

************In fact, the only thing I didn't like was that they installed a
new Garmin
transponder antenna, without asking, because it was "recommended by Garmin."
It was "only" an extra $150 -- cheap, in aviation -- but it still bugs me
that they threw away a perfectly functional antenna because it wasn't the
"spade" kind that Garmin recommends.****************

Jay, They did you a BIG favor. You should tip them for being pro-active on
the maintenance on your airplane. Everything on an airplane wears out, and a
transponder antenna is right up there on the list. They did it without
asking because it was the right and correct way for the installation.

One way to look at it would be to relate it to your hotel. Can you imagine
someone complaining that you changed the sheets on their bed, and they
thought they could have gotten a discount? That's what it sounds like when
you complain about a job done properly.

I go as far as replacing ALL accessories at 500 hrs. That means new mags,
plugs, harness, starter, hoses, alternator, vacuum pumps, ignition switches.
Sure, it leaves some time on the bench, but my seaplane trips to Northern
B.C. have NEVER been interrupted by a mechanical failure. It would be very
inconvenient to be stranded up there a couple of hundred miles from the
closest road.

BTW, I've maintained a Taylorcraft, two Super Cubs, Cessna 180, Cessna 206,
Mooney 201, Cessna 140, two Cessna 185's (All that I owned.) Plus a King Air
90 and King Air 200, that I crewed and managed. Nobody ever complained about
getting there on time. Christ, you should see the maintenance on the jets we
fly now!

We like to say "No Bucks, No Buck Rogers!"

Best,
Karl

In article ,
"karl" wrote:

************In fact, the only thing I didn't like was that they installed a
new Garmin
transponder antenna, without asking, because it was "recommended by Garmin."
It was "only" an extra $150 -- cheap, in aviation -- but it still bugs me
that they threw away a perfectly functional antenna because it wasn't the
"spade" kind that Garmin recommends.****************

Jay, They did you a BIG favor. You should tip them for being pro-active on
the maintenance on your airplane.

Feh. It's easy to be "pro-active" when you're spending somebody else's
money. It really ****es me off when people do more than I asked for
then expect me to pay for it.

All the guy needed to do was say, "You know, Garmin recommends swapping
out the antenna you've got now for their own. It'll be $150. Should I
do it?" It's the customer's money, it should be the customer's decision.

"karl" wrote in message
...
************In fact, the only thing I didn't like was that they installed
a
new Garmin
transponder antenna, without asking, because it was "recommended by
Garmin."
It was "only" an extra $150 -- cheap, in aviation -- but it still bugs me
that they threw away a perfectly functional antenna because it wasn't the
"spade" kind that Garmin recommends.****************

Jay, They did you a BIG favor. You should tip them for being pro-active on
the maintenance on your airplane. Everything on an airplane wears out, and
a
transponder antenna is right up there on the list.

Please explain how an antenna wears out.

On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 05:03:02 +0000, Dave Stadt wrote:


"karl" wrote in message
...
************In fact, the only thing I didn't like was that they installed
a
new Garmin
transponder antenna, without asking, because it was "recommended by
Garmin."
It was "only" an extra $150 -- cheap, in aviation -- but it still bugs me
that they threw away a perfectly functional antenna because it wasn't the
"spade" kind that Garmin recommends.****************

Jay, They did you a BIG favor. You should tip them for being pro-active on
the maintenance on your airplane. Everything on an airplane wears out, and
a
transponder antenna is right up there on the list.

Please explain how an antenna wears out.

They crack, get dirt in internal connection, etc. Check out the
www.avionicswest.com for some other examples.

jerry

Jay, They did you a BIG favor. You should tip them for being pro-active on
the maintenance on your airplane. Everything on an airplane wears out, and
a
transponder antenna is right up there on the list. They did it without
asking because it was the right and correct way for the installation.

Well, I consider a "favor" to be something done on my behalf, without
charge.

A $150.00 bill isn't a favor -- it's a charge. And one I didn't authorize.

Still, if the new antenna means 10 years of trouble-free service, what the
hell -- it's only money. But they *should* have asked, first.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"