I had a inquiry:

I need some advice in installing Power FLARM in my certified HpH304 CZ. So far I’ve had 2 A&Ps reluctant to sign off on the install. Folks keep telling me different stories of how it’s acceptable to install PF in a certified glider without A&P approval. I realize FLARM is mandatory under EASA but that doesn’t translate well here in the USA.

The last recommendation I’d gotten from most recent A&P is that he might be able to install PF if the manufacturer’s TECH NOTES are available and had been used by another A&P to sign off the PF install.

Any thoughts on this issue

Richard

I'm a bit surprised at this, but perhaps shouldn't be in this litigious society. I thought that PF radiates power only on free bands and below the license limit (around 100 mW). The cell phone in your pocket radiates far more power than that, yet doesn't require A&P approval to carry it and no one thinks twice. What is the reasoning for those A&Ps reluctance?

On Friday, September 16, 2022 at 7:30:03 AM UTC-7, Richard Pfiffner wrote:
> I had a inquiry:
>
> I need some advice in installing Power FLARM in my certified HpH304 CZ. So far I’ve had 2 A&Ps reluctant to sign off on the install. Folks keep telling me different stories of how it’s acceptable to install PF in a certified glider without A&P approval. I realize FLARM is mandatory under EASA but that doesn’t translate well here in the USA.
>
> The last recommendation I’d gotten from most recent A&P is that he might be able to install PF if the manufacturer’s TECH NOTES are available and had been used by another A&P to sign off the PF install.
>
> Any thoughts on this issue
>
> Richard

Richard:
It should not come as a surprise that A&Ps are reluctant to work on things they were not trained on or knowledgeable about. I suggest that you tell us the geographic area where the glider/pilot are located and then have this list suggest A&Ps who are glider pilots or who are at least knowledgeable about glider related equipment.
ROY

On Friday, September 16, 2022 at 10:14:22 AM UTC-7, Roy B. wrote:
> Richard:
> It should not come as a surprise that A&Ps are reluctant to work on things they were not trained on or knowledgeable about. I suggest that you tell us the geographic area where the glider/pilot are located and then have this list suggest A&Ps who are glider pilots or who are at least knowledgeable about glider related equipment.
> ROY
Connecticut is the state.

Richard

On Friday, September 16, 2022 at 12:04:15 PM UTC-7, Richard Pfiffner wrote:
> On Friday, September 16, 2022 at 10:14:22 AM UTC-7, Roy B. wrote:
> > Richard:
> > It should not come as a surprise that A&Ps are reluctant to work on things they were not trained on or knowledgeable about. I suggest that you tell us the geographic area where the glider/pilot are located and then have this list suggest A&Ps who are glider pilots or who are at least knowledgeable about glider related equipment.
> > ROY
> Connecticut is the state.
>
> Richard

The answer as given to the owner involved is to find an A&P who knows what they are doing with gliders. And he's been given some contacts. If an A&P is so lost like this WTF might they do wrong touching a glider.

On Fri, 16 Sep 2022 07:30:01 -0700 (PDT), Richard Pfiffner
<handb9802@gmail.com> wrote:

>I had a inquiry:
>
>I need some advice in installing Power FLARM in my certified HpH304 CZ. So far I’ve had 2 A&Ps reluctant to sign off on the install. Folks keep telling me different stories of how it’s acceptable to install PF in a certified glider without A&P approval. I realize FLARM is mandatory under EASA but that doesn’t translate well here in the USA.
>
>The last recommendation I’d gotten from most recent A&P is that he might be able to install PF if the manufacturer’s TECH NOTES are available and had been used by another A&P to sign off the PF install.
>
>Any thoughts on this issue
>
>Richard

Texas Soaring Assoc has PowerFlarm installed in all 10 club owned
gliders (std type certified) and 3 Pawnee towplanes.

This is what we put in our ships logbooks;

PowerFlarm installed per PowerFlarm Core Installation Manual
FTD-033No appreciable changes to weight & balance resulting from
installation.
Date: 3/02/2014

Bob

--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com

On Friday, September 16, 2022 at 1:26:38 PM UTC-7, Bob Gibbons wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Sep 2022 07:30:01 -0700 (PDT), Richard Pfiffner
> <hand...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >I had a inquiry:
> >
> >I need some advice in installing Power FLARM in my certified HpH304 CZ. So far I’ve had 2 A&Ps reluctant to sign off on the install. Folks keep telling me different stories of how it’s acceptable to install PF in a certified glider without A&P approval. I realize FLARM is mandatory under EASA but that doesn’t translate well here in the USA.
> >
> >The last recommendation I’d gotten from most recent A&P is that he might be able to install PF if the manufacturer’s TECH NOTES are available and had been used by another A&P to sign off the PF install.
> >
> >Any thoughts on this issue
> >
> >Richard
> Texas Soaring Assoc has PowerFlarm installed in all 10 club owned
> gliders (std type certified) and 3 Pawnee towplanes.
>
> This is what we put in our ships logbooks;
>
> PowerFlarm installed per PowerFlarm Core Installation Manual
> FTD-033 No appreciable changes to weight & balance resulting from
> installation.
> Date: 3/02/2014
>
> Bob
>
> --
> This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
> www.avg.com
Get a new A&P familiar with gliders.

On Friday, September 16, 2022 at 9:18:27 PM UTC-4, kuzi...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Friday, September 16, 2022 at 1:26:38 PM UTC-7, Bob Gibbons wrote:
> > On Fri, 16 Sep 2022 07:30:01 -0700 (PDT), Richard Pfiffner
> > <hand...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > >I had a inquiry:
> > >
> > >I need some advice in installing Power FLARM in my certified HpH304 CZ.. So far I’ve had 2 A&Ps reluctant to sign off on the install. Folks keep telling me different stories of how it’s acceptable to install PF in a certified glider without A&P approval. I realize FLARM is mandatory under EASA but that doesn’t translate well here in the USA.
> > >
> > >The last recommendation I’d gotten from most recent A&P is that he might be able to install PF if the manufacturer’s TECH NOTES are available and had been used by another A&P to sign off the PF install.
> > >
> > >Any thoughts on this issue
> > >
> > >Richard
> > Texas Soaring Assoc has PowerFlarm installed in all 10 club owned
> > gliders (std type certified) and 3 Pawnee towplanes.
> >
> > This is what we put in our ships logbooks;
> >
> > PowerFlarm installed per PowerFlarm Core Installation Manual
> > FTD-033 No appreciable changes to weight & balance resulting from
> > installation.
> > Date: 3/02/2014
> >
> > Bob
> >
> > --
> > This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
> > www.avg.com
> Get a new A&P familiar with gliders.
If by "PowerFlarm" you mean the discontinued portable unit, velcro & go! Not part of the aircraft...

On Friday, 16 September 2022 at 17:30:03 UTC+3, Richard Pfiffner wrote:
> I realize FLARM is mandatory under EASA but that doesn’t translate well here in the USA.

It certainly is not.

On Sunday, 18 September 2022 at 12:44:36 UTC+1, krasw wrote:
> On Friday, 16 September 2022 at 17:30:03 UTC+3, Richard Pfiffner wrote:
> > I realize FLARM is mandatory under EASA but that doesn’t translate well here in the USA.
> It certainly is not.

..... but it was made mandatory in France from 1st March 2013 for gliders and motor-gliders.

On Sunday, September 18, 2022 at 12:04:34 PM UTC-4, jpg...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Sunday, 18 September 2022 at 12:44:36 UTC+1, krasw wrote:
> > On Friday, 16 September 2022 at 17:30:03 UTC+3, Richard Pfiffner wrote:
> > > I realize FLARM is mandatory under EASA but that doesn’t translate well here in the USA.
> > It certainly is not.
> .... but it was made mandatory in France from 1st March 2013 for gliders and motor-gliders.
As I understand it, EASA approval is reciprocal with the USA.
So the MCA below should help.
https://flarm.com/shop/easa-minor-change-approval-mca-for-powerflarm-fusion/

> As I understand it, EASA approval is reciprocal with the USA.

When I was fighting with the FAA over the Pegase 101 life limit, I brought up the "Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement," which supposedly provides reciprocal recognition of aircraft certification, equipment and so on. I was "informed" by the FAA that they "don't pay much attention to that" at the Small Aircraft Directorate. Apparently, the FAA outranks the State Department.. Beware the "petty tyranny of the bureaucracy."

On Sunday, September 18, 2022 at 6:28:45 PM UTC-6, Mark Mocho wrote:
> > As I understand it, EASA approval is reciprocal with the USA.
> When I was fighting with the FAA over the Pegase 101 life limit, I brought up the "Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement," which supposedly provides reciprocal recognition of aircraft certification, equipment and so on. I was "informed" by the FAA that they "don't pay much attention to that" at the Small Aircraft Directorate. Apparently, the FAA outranks the State Department. Beware the "petty tyranny of the bureaucracy."
If reciprocity were honored, the SZD-54 would hold a US Type-Certificate.