Rules on overhauling avionics

[RobertE]

First of all, I'm certainly not complaining. This is good news.

I just received a salvaged Stormscope from Valentine aviation that looks brand new. New glass face, new enclosure and trim, crisp buttons, ... It cost just $1,295 vs the minimum $3,500 charge that L3 requires to even inspect a returned unit.

I thought only a manufacturer or some facility that has TSO authority could rebuild something.

So how does it work? Whatever the answer I'd like to give Valentine a resounding endorsement.

[MB65E]

It's Most likely a certified repair station that has that line of instruments listed on their capabilities list. Certain repair schemes may still need to be done by the MFG. What you had done was only cosmetic anyway.

-Matt

[RobertE]

My guess, and it's only a guess, is that if they replaced cosmetic items then they did some internal work as well.  In the case of my old unit that I swapped, those in the know believe it had a failed power supply.  I'm guessing Valentine wanted it in trade because they or someone else is going to replace that power supply, clean up the cosmetics, then resell.

[Mooneymite]

Several years ago, I asked my tron to fix my storm scope. It would probably be a simple fix; my tron guessed it was dirty contacts on a ribbon connector. Unfortunately, the manufacturer withheld all field repair manuals. Without those, legal field repairs are nearly impossible...no "authority".

I ended up sending it back to the manufacturer for a flat rate which was very high for just dirty connections. However, there was no choice other than buying an operable replacement. At least I got a 6 month warranty.

Maybe I should have asked the Hangar fairries to look at it.

[kortopates]

Mooneymite nailed it. In order for a FAA licensed radio repair station to fix a particular avionics unit, they have to be able to procure the documentation from the manufacturer to do so. Yet manufacturers are very different in what documentation they provide beyond installation and checkout documentation. For example, Garmin provides nothing for repair since they prefer to repair all their own equipment. Honeywell Bendix-King is an example of manufacturer that does provide repair documentation and in fact ranks repair stations at 3 levels - those that can diagnose at the major component level (such as auto-pilot components), or at the board level or IC on part the board.  All boils down to availability of a manufacturer approved documentation which is no different than a Mooney factory Maintenance manual being required to perform maintenance on a Mooney.