Having started this thread, I feel slightly responsible for this rather
heated debate. I have done the research and this is the result:-
All UK CAA equipment approvals are now carried out through the European JAA
approval system. The CAA now has a website which contains the "AEARS
Database" which has a search engine enabling you to check the approval of
any particular bit of equipment.
The website is very difficult to find, but I eventually found it at
www.caa.co.uk/srg/airworthiness/aea/search.asp
If you type in "VHF Comm" it will give you a list of all the VHF com
manufacturers, and you can then look for a particular part number. This
shows that the Icom AC-200 is approved under approval number LA301011.
So, the equipment is approved, therefore it must work (or, at least pass the
required safety standards). The issue for me is that it is one of the key
systems on the aircraft and I want to be confident that I can get the
necessary technical support if I get problems with the equipment or its
installation. In the UK there seems to be a lack of support. Icom (UK) Ltd
website even denies the existence of the unit!
A pity, because it seems to be good value and those people that resolve the
installation issues seem very happy with it.
Brian Davies kit 454
----- Original Message -----
From: "R.C.Harrison" <ptag.dev@ukonline.co.uk>
Subject: RE: Europa-List: RE: Europa-List Digest: 15 Msgs - 05/21/03
<ptag.dev@ukonline.co.uk>
>
> Hi! Guys.
> Just a "rider" to my previous info' on the ICOM unit. in the light of
Graham
> Singleton's message about the CAA approval and Nick Hammonds notes below.
I
> know not NOW from where my information came but I don't seek to pass
> information on the basis of "hearsay" and was advised by someone in
> authority perhaps PFA or their Inspector that the ICOM IC A200 wasn't now
> authorised for new Installations.
> Having offered that information in good faith I don't intend spending my
> 'phone expense to verify or otherwise the facts. May I therefore suggest
> that the folks who receive this information take the trouble to speak to
the
> Radiocommunications Agency Branch of the CAA before they spend their cash
> possibly unwantonly. It's by the way that my experiences are that it's a
> piece of "sh..." and that so called ICOM agents at Wolverhampton couldn't
> adjust it to suit my installation nor would they fly in the a/c to try to
> adjust it more suitably in working conditions and could only bench set it
to
> the written instructions with a shrug of the shoulders as to the likely
> cause of the problem.
> Regards
> Bob Harrison G-PTAG
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
> [mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com]On Behalf Of Nick Hammond
> To: europa-list@matronics.com
> Subject: Europa-List: RE: Europa-List Digest: 15 Msgs - 05/21/03
>
>
> <Nick.Hammond@saabsystems.com.au>
>
> Brian,
>
> >
> > Does any one know of a UK supplier for the Icom IC A200 transceiver? I
> know
> > I can get it from the US but it would be nice to have UK supplier
support.
> >
> > Brian Davies kit 454
>
> I have one of these but as yet no in-flight performance experience. The
> issue of "approval" or otherwise will vary from country to country but
> despite a fair amount of research I found nothing at all to confirm the
> rumours. I suspect this is a typical piece of the "noise" (replicated by
> well meaning people who like bad news and believe everything they hear)
that
> makes the Internet an unreliable source of information unless you apply a
> reasonable degree of skepticism to the information content.
>
> The real bad news is that the technical support for the IC-A200 leaves a
lot
> to be desired. The radio is a good looking unit and includes very nice
> features like a built in intercom and multiple audio inputs but the
> documentation supplied with the unit is essentially an external wiring
> diagram -- no application notes and no information on singal levels or
even
> the meaning of the abbreviations. I have checked all the Icom websites
> (Europe, USA, Australia and Asia) and they have nothing useful.
>
> The local so-called "technical support" people have this documentation and
> detailed repair manuals but no design guidance of any form and their view
> was that nothing else would be available from other centres. In other
words,
> if you want anything but the most basic istallation, you are on your own.
My
> radio came with a partially complete kit but I try to steer of companies
> with this sort of attitude. There are plenty of other good and relatively
> inexpensive VHF Aircraft radios available.
>
> If you do decide to go ahead with the Icom unit and want to use some of
the
> features, let me know off list and I will share what I have been able to
nut
> out.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Nick
>
>
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