Who can install a new radio in a certified aircraft?
With credit to:
Tracey L. Potter
President – Hagerstown Aircraft Services, Inc.
An A&P can install a new radio in an aircraft, but he cannot approve the plane for return to service. This must be done by an A&P-IA or a certified repair station. A&Ps can remove a radio from a tray and install a like unit in its place, and approve it for return to service.
A repair station can hold various ratings including Airframe, Powerplant, Instrument, Radio, and specialized service (such as magna-flux, zyglow, and other types of Non Destructive Testing/NDT). Pitot-static and transponder checks are another example of specialized service.
All of these ratings are defined in a repair station’s operations manual, written by the repair station and approved by the FAA. They can be limited to certain aspects or types of repairs or maintenance. This is determined and limited by the repair station’s personnel training, equipment, and facilities.
Sometime when you cant sleep, pick up a copy of the FARs and read section 145 which is the repair station bible.