Good afternoon. Trying to assist a friend with a recent aircraft purchase and conformity issue where the original GNS530 was swapped out with a IFD 540 by the previous owner/pilot as a preventative maintenance action per an "Avidyne Exchange Guide" and Part 43. However, in the IFD540 Installation Manual (600-00299-000) I have access to under the 2.1 "Plug and Play Considerations" section it lists several requirements that would prohibit this type of swap by an owner/pilot and require the signature of an FAA A&P as an alteration.

It's my understanding there is no FAA LOA for this swap per the "Guide" and a couple Avidyne dealers the current owner talked to both recommended the swap should be performed by an A&P. Given the IFD 540 unit appears to only have STC and TSO approvals vs a standalone PMA, the IFD 540 appears to lack the requirements to be considered a straight part replacement for a GNS530 per Part 43 Appx A(c)(31) as noted below.

Is there any other Avidyne or FAA documentation available that would offset the Installation Manual information and requirements or give approval to use the "Guide" that I am overlooking? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Part 43 Appx A(c)(31):

Removing and replacing self-contained, front instrument panel-mounted navigation and communication devices that employ tray-mounted connectors that connect the unit when the unit is installed into the instrument panel, (excluding automatic flight control systems, transponders, and microwave frequency distance measuring equipment (DME)). The approved unit must be designed to be readily and repeatedly removed and replaced, and pertinent instructions must be provided. Prior to the unit's intended use, and operational check must be performed in accordance with the applicable sections of part 91 of this chapter.

There is some guidance out there that allows A&P's to swap equipment with a log book entry (minor change), but it's really aimed at things like simple com radios or CDI`s.  For example, PS Engineering makes a couple different audio panels that are pin and tray compatible with some Garmin and King audio panels.  But again,  you still need to be a mechanic to do this.  And I'm not sure you could pull this off with an Avidyne/530 swap.  I would need to see some guidance from the FAA before I would put my signature on that.

Worst case,  assuming your airplane is on Avidynes AML list it should be a pretty quick and easy 337 for your IA.

The pilot done swap out procedure was outlined and made available by Avidyne to move from a GNS to IFD.

* Orest

Rallylancer122 wrote: I think the previous owner misunderstood what part 43 meant when it says "remove and replace".

Not according to the owner. He stated he followed the Avidyne Exchange Guide which gave him permission to perform the swap under Part 43 prevent mx I referenced in my OP.

The problem I see as a APIA is that swap by a pilot per the Exchange Guide is not legit on several levels. The Exchange guide is not listed under the Avidyne STC MDL plus the Guide contradicts the guidance given in the Avidyne Installation manual (which is listed on the MDL) that under the Plug and Play Section references the Garmin/Avidyne swap as a minor alteration for VFR swaps/installs and a major alteration for IFR installs.

True. But as mentioned above the Guide does not meet the Part 43 requirements for a pilot to perform the work.

doog wrote: What problem are you trying to solve?  Are you questioning the legitimacy of this aircraft logs?  Lots of us installed our IFDs with the self install guidance with no issues.  If you're concerned about it, have your A&P sign the entry.  No biggie.

The problem is the Exchange Guide is not a legit reference regardless if it comes from Avidyne. As mentioned above, the STC approved data package states plainly the swap of the Garmin for the Avidyne is an alteration which a pilot can not perform as preventative maintenance under Part 43.

So from my stand point as the APIA, unless there is a separate FAA LOA for this Exchange Guide its not a legit install in its current state. Do you happen to know if there is an LOA for this Exchange Guide? 

And to fix the issue is more than just a simple sign off as it will require permission to use the STC, etc and additional work to meet the requirements of the STC.

Is there traceability for, say a stolen G 530/430 that a crook could use in Avidyne’s trade in program? 7 airplanes have been vandalized by someone who knew how to remove radios from their trays. 

AviSteve can you comment here??? This seems to be something that you/Avidyne can and should provide some clarity on.  At one point Avidyne claimed that the approval for the swap was granted by the FAA but Avidyne never posted a confirmation of that approval.