Icom Panel Mount Radios? OK?

[nippaero]

Hi guys,
Are the Icom panel mount radios TSO'd for our airplanes? I have seen several photos with them installed but when I looked on A/S's website they say they are not TSO'd. What's the story? Can they be used?

[bagarre]

There is no requirement that a radio have a TSO to be installed in our aircraft. IFR or not.
Transponders are required to be TSOd (rather, show that they comply with the TSO).


Cheers.

[nippaero]

That is good to know. I figured everything had to be TSO'd. Do the instruments have to be? How about the audio panel?

I'll have to go do some reading on the subject. My previous airplanes were experimental so some of his is new to me with the 170.

[bagarre]

Primary flight instruments need to conform either to the modern TSO or the old Army Navy (AN) standards.
Our planes pre-date the TSO so our gauges are AN gauges but if you had to buy a new airspeed indicator (for example) it would need be TSO'd.

Audio panels and other such things (intercoms) don't need a TSO.

Cheers

[nippaero]

I really like the new Garmin GMA 245 but didn't think I could put it in my 170. So that is at least good news.

[nippaero]

So I am still a little confused. I was told at the airport today that the radio does have to be TSO'd to be installed in a certified aircraft. Help me understand the rules here if you can.

[bagarre]

For starters, I'd ask those people to show you where in the FAR it requires TSO radios for part 91 operations.

If you want to operate commercially as an air carrier, yes. but you also need a TSOd pencil for Part 135 operations.
We're not 135. We're part 91 and there is no TSO requirement for radio equipment in part 91.
A lot of folks misunderstand this and assume if there is a TSO version then we are required to use it in certificated aircraft and that's simply untrue.
Transponders? yes. ELTs? yes, Anti collision lights? Pretty sure yes but would have to re-read the regs.

There is also no requirement for life jackets beyond gliding distance from the shore for us but, that's another thread.


Even for IFR flight, the requirement is :

(2) Two-way radio communication and navigation equipment suitable for the route to be flown.

Suitable does not imply TSO requirement. One way to determine if it's suitable is that it complies with a TSO but that doesn't require the TSO.

This is a good read on the subject. It's regarding their VOR CDI but relates to radios too.
http://www.valavionics.com/installation ... craft.html

Cheers,

[nippaero]

Hi David,
How about the audio panel/intercom?

[bagarre]

The BEST way to do this is to grab a copy of 14 CFR Part 91 and look up each thing you want to add/remove.
Those are the rules that govern us little airplanes. Actually, CAR 3 is what we were certified with but I digress.

If Part 91 states that a TSO is required, It's required
14 CFR 91.215 is a good example (Transponders) it calls out..
"in accordance with the applicable provisions specified in TSO C-112"

you wont find any such language regarding VHF radios.

cheers.

[nippaero]

Thanks David. I plan on researching tonight.

[jmurtap]

Good Stuff, I had no idea. Maybe I should blow the dust off of the FAR book, I haven't cracked it open since flight school.