greg p wrote:
Jeff Clark wrote:
A portable device cannot drive an autopilot on a certified aircraft.
Jeff, I'm a bit confused by this statement. Do you mean flying IFR, approaches, or at all? I've been using my 740 for over a year with the Trio ProPilot. But, for VFR only.
This is my understanding, based on other posts here and elsewhere. I can't find a definitive yes/no answer in the regs, because it depends on the circumstances. I'm going from memory here, so go with my big picture and forgive me if I misstate the details:
1) A certified autopilot (etc) meets certification when it is connected to other hardware that is listed in the autopilot's certification. This is why the new Garmin G5 can be installed to replace a DG, but its heading bug function can't be "turned on" until there's paperwork that says it's certified to work with brand A/B/C autopilot (in aircraft A/B/C).
2) A GPS installed as the primary GPS cannot be replaced with a GPS that's not approved as a primary source. For example, some engine monitors include fuel gauges, etc. but if they're not certified as primary instruments, then you cannot remove the originals when you install the new ones. So in the same vein, IF there's already a primary GPS source in the pane (not the case in for the OP), then maybe you could connect an uncertified GPS to the autopilot as long as the original is still available. I'm out on a limb here, and just throwing out some what-if scenarios.
OldPilot has said many times that he can post his opinions. I agree with that, but I can also post my opinions and if they differ from his or anyone elses, I don't consider it an "argument". There's three sides to every coin.
As to your direct question to me, here's a lengthy and often amusing discussion of this very topic, and they have more opinions than we do. Some say you can do it, some say you can't, some say do it anyway, and one guy actually went the FSDO route and got permission (field certification?) to connect a portable GPS to a certified autopilot. And some called him crazy for going that route. So obviously it's not as cut and dried as I had remembered, and so I'll respectfully withdraw my opinion from this discussion as it's quite possible that my memory has failed me. I was certain that an uncertified GPS was not permitted to drive an autopilot in a certified aircraft, whether VFR or IFR.
So out of curiosity, do you fly a certified aircraft, did an avionics shop install your iFly/autopilot wiring connection, and if so which paperwork route did they take? As you can see from the following link, it's a crapshoot as to which method is smiled upon by the Friendly Aviation Administration:
https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/commu...ircraft.104981/