FAA Field Approvals in Europe

[Awqward]

I'm considering changing my conventional Whelen strobes for Whelen Orion LED strobe units....Whelen says they are designed to replace the legacy units....BUT....there is no STC for them...they meet the required TSO and FAR requirements for strobe lighting in terms of brightness etc.... I saw on Beechtalk some people in the US have had them installed as a Minor Alteration (with just an A&P sign-off and no 337)....which may be OK but some also think it is a Major a Alteration thus requiring a 337....the problem is that without an STC as far as I know it would require a Field Approval if it is indeed a Major Alteration....my IA said it is not possible to do Field Approvals through the NY FSDO.....so what do people do??

[N601RX]

There is an old AC, I don't remember the number that suggest it is acceptable to substitute some parts that meet the same TSO.

 

Its AC20-41A

[Awqward]

That's very enlightening! The way I interpret that is that it is NOT a Major Alteration if the replacement units comply with the same TSO....which they do....so it should just be a sign off by an A&P....not even an IA.... Nevertheless I will ask the direct question of Whelen I think before buying anything....