Important Disclaimer

This page is provided as a general introductory guide only. It is not legal, regulatory, airworthiness, engineering or maintenance advice and should not be treated as a definitive interpretation of the requirements applicable to a particular aircraft or installation.

Rules and approval procedures may vary according to the aircraft’s country of registration, certification category, national authority, maintenance system and individual installation.

Before installing the Glider Canopy Flasher, the aircraft owner or operator should confirm the applicable requirements with an appropriately authorised inspector, certifying person, maintenance organisation or relevant aviation authority.

Current regulations, official guidance, aircraft manufacturer instructions and the requirements of the person responsible for releasing the aircraft to service always take precedence over the information on this page.

Glider Canopy Flasher Installation and Approval

The Glider Canopy Flasher is designed as a daytime visual-awareness light for installation inside the forward part of a sailplane canopy.

The exact approval procedure depends on the country in which the aircraft is registered and the aircraft’s certification category.

Important: installing the equipment and certifying the aircraft for return to service are two separate activities. The aircraft owner may often carry out some or all of the physical installation, but the completed installation normally has to be inspected and certified by an appropriately authorised person.

Always contact the person who will certify the installation before beginning work.

United Kingdom

Applicable procedure

For an eligible UK sailplane, the installation can normally be carried out using UK CS-STAN Issue 4, CS-SC036b — Installation of Visual Awareness Lights.

CS-SC036b specifically allows a visual-awareness light to be installed inside the forward part of a sailplane canopy.

Can the owner install it?

Yes. The aircraft owner may normally carry out some or all of the physical installation, provided this is agreed in advance with the BGA inspector who will inspect and certify the work.

The owner may, for example:

  • fit the flasher and control unit;
  • route the wiring;
  • prepare the electrical connections;
  • fit the switch, fuse or circuit breaker;
  • assist with the functional tests.

The inspector must be able to examine the installation before wiring, connections or mounting details become inaccessible.

Who certifies the installation?

The completed installation must normally be inspected and certified by a suitably authorised BGA glider inspector.

For a UK Part-21 sailplane, the inspector must also hold the appropriate UK Part-66L licence privileges for the aircraft and the work being certified.

The inspector does not need to be authorised to issue an Airworthiness Review Certificate simply because they are certifying the flasher installation. ARC privileges and maintenance release-to-service privileges are separate.

Who signs CAA Form 123?

The appropriately authorised inspector normally:

  • inspects the installation;
  • verifies compliance with CS-SC036b;
  • completes and signs Box 11 of CAA Form 123;
  • signs the Certificate of Release to Service;
  • makes or signs the aircraft logbook entry.

The aircraft owner signs Box 12 of CAA Form 123. This confirms that the owner has received the relevant installation documents, operating limitations and continuing-airworthiness information.

The owner’s signature in Box 12 is not the technical certification of the installation.

UK installation procedure

  1. Confirm that the aircraft is eligible for CS-STAN CS-SC036b.
  2. Contact a suitably authorised BGA inspector before starting work.
  3. Agree which parts of the installation may be completed by the owner.
  4. Agree the locations of the flasher, controller, switch and wiring.
  5. Complete the installation under the agreed supervision arrangements.
  6. Inspect the mounting, wiring, electrical protection and cable routing.
  7. Check that the canopy closes, locks and jettisons normally.
  8. Check for glare and canopy reflections.
  9. Perform the electrical and functional tests.
  10. Check for radio or navigation-equipment interference.
  11. Update weight and balance information where required.
  12. Complete CAA Form 123, the CRS and the aircraft logbook entry.

European Union and EASA States

Applicable procedure

For an eligible EASA aircraft, the installation can normally be carried out using EASA CS-STAN Issue 4, CS-SC036b — Installation of Visual Awareness Lights.

CS-SC036b permits installation inside the forward part of a sailplane canopy and classifies the equipment as a visual-awareness light rather than a certified anti-collision light.

The light is intended for daytime VFR situational-awareness use.

Can the owner install it?

The aircraft owner may be able to carry out some or all of the physical work where this is permitted by the applicable national maintenance system and agreed with the person who will certify the installation.

National arrangements differ between EASA member states, so the certifying person or maintenance organisation should be contacted before installation begins.

Who certifies the installation?

CS-SC036b is not eligible for pilot-owner release to service.

The completed installation must therefore be inspected and released to service by appropriately authorised certifying staff or an approved maintenance organisation acting within its privileges.

This may include:

  • appropriately licensed aircraft maintenance personnel;
  • a national gliding maintenance inspector;
  • a Part-CAO organisation;
  • a Part-145 organisation.

EU documentation

The certifying person will normally complete:

  • EASA Form 123;
  • the Certificate of Release to Service;
  • the aircraft maintenance-record entry;
  • any required flight-manual or operating-information amendment;
  • any required continuing-airworthiness instructions.

EU installation procedure

  1. Confirm that the aircraft is eligible for CS-STAN CS-SC036b.
  2. Contact the intended certifying person or organisation.
  3. Agree which installation work may be performed by the owner.
  4. Install the equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
  5. Install suitable electrical protection and an accessible ON/OFF control.
  6. Inspect the mounting, wiring and cable routing.
  7. Check canopy closing, locking and emergency jettison.
  8. Perform glare, reflection, temperature and interference tests.
  9. Update weight and balance information where required.
  10. Complete EASA Form 123 and the release-to-service documentation.

United States

Applicable procedure

EASA and UK CS-STAN do not provide automatic installation approval for a United States-registered aircraft.

The installation must be assessed under the applicable FAA maintenance and alteration rules.

Can the owner install it?

For a standard-category certificated glider, the owner should contact an appropriately certificated A&P mechanic before beginning the installation.

The owner may carry out physical work under the direct supervision of a mechanic who is authorised to perform that work. The supervising mechanic must observe the work as necessary and remain available in person for consultation.

A permanently wired flasher installation is not normally treated as ordinary owner-performed preventive maintenance.

Minor or major alteration

The responsible mechanic must determine whether the installation is a minor alteration or a major alteration.

The decision may depend on:

  • the mounting method;
  • structural changes;
  • changes to the aircraft electrical system;
  • electrical load;
  • weight and balance;
  • effects on aircraft operation or airworthiness.

Minor alteration

If the installation is accepted as a minor alteration, an appropriately certificated mechanic may perform or supervise the work, inspect the completed installation and make the required aircraft maintenance-record entry.

Major alteration

If the installation is classified as a major alteration, additional approved technical data and FAA Form 337 may be required.

Approval for return to service after a major alteration must be made by an appropriately authorised person, commonly an Inspection Authorisation holder or an appropriately rated repair station.

US installation procedure

  1. Contact an A&P mechanic before beginning work.
  2. Confirm the aircraft certification category.
  3. Determine whether the installation is a minor or major alteration.
  4. Agree the approved installation method and required technical data.
  5. Complete the work under the required supervision.
  6. Inspect the mounting, wiring and circuit protection.
  7. Perform glare, functional and interference tests.
  8. Update weight and balance and the equipment list where required.
  9. Complete the maintenance-record entry.
  10. Complete FAA Form 337 where the installation is classified as a major alteration.

Experimental, Experimental Light-Sport and Special Light-Sport aircraft may follow different procedures. The aircraft operating limitations and applicable manufacturer requirements must be checked.

Australia

Applicable procedure

For sailplanes administered by Gliding Australia, visual-awareness lights are covered by Gliding Australia Manual of Standard Procedures Part 3, Section 18.8.

The permitted locations include installation inside the forward part of the canopy.

Who may install it?

The installation may be completed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions by a Gliding Australia member holding the appropriate Replacement of Components authority.

An owner who does not hold the required authority should arrange the installation with an appropriately authorised Gliding Australia member before beginning work.

Installation requirements

The installation must ensure that:

  • the light does not blind or distract the pilot;
  • canopy reflections are acceptable;
  • the canopy can close and lock normally;
  • emergency canopy jettison is not obstructed;
  • the equipment is securely mounted;
  • the aircraft electrical system is suitable;
  • appropriate electrical protection is installed;
  • an accessible ON/OFF control is provided;
  • the installation does not cause unacceptable interference;
  • weight and balance effects are considered.

Drilling, structural changes or work outside the standard installation allowance may require additional inspector or engineering approval.

Australian installation procedure

  1. Confirm that the aircraft is administered by Gliding Australia.
  2. Contact a member holding the required Replacement of Components authority.
  3. Agree the installation method before beginning work.
  4. Install the equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
  5. Fit the required switch and electrical protection.
  6. Inspect the mounting, wiring and cable routing.
  7. Check canopy closing, locking and emergency jettison.
  8. Perform glare, reflection, temperature and interference tests.
  9. Complete any required weight and balance assessment.
  10. Record and certify the installation in the aircraft logbook and Maintenance Release.

Aircraft that are not administered by Gliding Australia may require a different CASA or approved-organisation procedure.

Checks Required in All Regions

The completed installation should be checked for:

  • secure mounting of the flasher and controller;
  • correct wiring and polarity;
  • suitable fuse or circuit-breaker protection;
  • an accessible ON/OFF control;
  • acceptable aircraft electrical load;
  • correct flasher operation;
  • absence of unacceptable glare or reflections;
  • absence of overheating;
  • absence of radio, FLARM or navigation-system interference;
  • unrestricted canopy closing, locking and emergency jettison;
  • correct weight and balance information;
  • completion of the required aircraft records.

Important

The approval route must be agreed before installation begins.

Do not drill, modify aircraft structure, permanently bond components or conceal wiring until the person responsible for certifying the installation has approved the proposed method.

The Glider Canopy Flasher installation instructions and supplied documentation support the approval process, but they do not replace the inspection, certification or release-to-service responsibilities of the authorised person.

National regulations, aircraft-manufacturer limitations and instructions from the responsible maintenance organisation take precedence over this general guidance.