October, 2004 AVIONICS, ELECTRICS, & CONTROLS

Oct 13 - got a reply from Scott at the FAA.   He says I DO need to use a TSOd encoder and altimeter for IFR.  In order to TRULY test my EFIS system against the TSO, it would require vast amounts of time, energy, money, and expertise.  One TSO spec alone SELLS for about $300; just to get it & read it.  I guess, as the manufacturer, I can simply arbitrarily claim that it meets the TSO, which is apparently how others flying IFR with these EFIS systems do it.  To actually test it & see that it does meet the spec would be a huge undertaking, which is why the EFIS mfg does not do it.  If manufacturers like BMA and GRT can't get it done, how could I?  Frankly, I am sick of dealing with the whole matter.  I contacted Eckhard and told him to go with the Sandia encoder.  Perhaps he won't make me get a TSOd altimeter, although Scott said a TSOd altimeter was even more important than the encoder.  What a headache all these confusing and ambiguous rules are!!   0.5 hr

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