Aktahoe
Registered User
Truckee, Alaska
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Just waiting for it to come back from powder coat and labeling then she gets weighed. I chose to go with the back up compass, airspeed and altimeter for the sake of my own mind set. They are simple and not much weight added. IMO
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If you're worried about it, make sure you have the minimum instruments as per your TCDS. Then you can install as many G5's as you want as the TCDS requirements are being met. Remember that you can add to your instruments but you cannot replace a certified instrument with a non certified one. And CAR 3 does not require a TSO just to hang an item on an airplane.A guy on the BCP site installed one of the new Garmin G5's in his C180 and his mechanic signed it off as a minor.
Good deal if you can swing it, but these instruments are in a bit of a gray area as far as whether or not they are a minor or major alteration and so a lot of mechanics don't want to stick their neck out. I'm hoping that the FAA comes out with a clear-cut policy relaxing the requirements (for TSO's and whatever) which will allow us to install these safety-enhancing devices in our factory aircraft.
Here's a pic of a G5, about $1200 and all the flight info you could want (and then some!).
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But I'm kinda confused about the policy statement-- it doesn't clarify if they're talking about equipment for IFR flight or VFR flight.
...make sure you have the minimum instruments as per your TCDS. Then you can install as many G5's as you want as the TCDS requirements are being met. Remember that you can add to your instruments but you cannot replace a certified instrument with a non certified one. And CAR 3 does not require a TSO just to hang an item on an airplane.
I am toying with the idea of fitting 'Falcon Gage' Vacuum horizon and DI in our equivalent of an Experimental. However as they are uncertified and probably of far eastern origin was wondering if anyone out there had any experience as to their reliability - the price is right but would I be buying a load of trouble?
Thanks for your thoughts and experiences.
Frank
the G5 is only approved for use as an attitude indicator and turn-and-slip indicator
From this Policy Statement on page 3 item 1. "...may also be replaced with an electronically-driven attitude indicator that provides a secondary (advisory) function (such as turn & slip indication)."If the G5 is installed as a minor alteration, the policy statement says you can replace a vacuum attitude indicator with an electronic one. But it doesn't say a word about replacing the directional indicator.
See page 3:
http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgPolicy.nsf/0/6a24902ae5f1aeac86257ec1005b2fbc/$FILE/PS-ACE-23-08.pdf
I'll let you look it up, but the answer is NO. You very likely would not want to fly with the minimum requirements for IFR.Is the DG a required instrument for IFR?
The G5's directional info is GPS derived.
Still not convinced the G5 would be approved as a substitute for the DG, for IFR use.
Is the DG a required instrument for IFR?
Right.The actual STC for the Garmin G5 seems to allow the G5 to replace either the "Attitude Indicator" OR the "Rate of Turn Indicator" but not both. If I'm reading this right, the "Rate of Turn Indicator" would not be the Directional Gyro, but the "Turn and Slip" or "Turn Coordinator", right?
From this Policy Statement on page 3 item 1. "...may also be replaced with an electronically-driven attitude indicator that provides a secondary (advisory) function (such as turn & slip indication)."
The directional gyro instrument IS a secondary instrument. The primary directional instrument is the required magnetic compass. You may not have thought this to be the case since one tends to use the DG as a primary directional indicator. If you have been using an HSI with a remote magnetic source, you have already been using a secondary electric directional indicator. SO you will only be replacing one old standby electric DG with a new standby electric DG.
The question would be, and I'm not sure that it would be relevant for this purpose, "what is the source of the new directional information?". Is the source GPS information or is it magnetically derived? If it is GPS info, you would not have the ability to determine drift angle since the information would be track not heading.
Make it a Root beer.I need to buy you a beer for this post!
Thanks
The actual STC for the Garmin G5 seems to allow the G5 to replace either the "Attitude Indicator" OR the "Rate of Turn Indicator" but not both. If I'm reading this right, the "Rate of Turn Indicator" would not be the Directional Gyro, but the "Turn and Slip" or "Turn Coordinator", right? ........