Handheld GPS in the instrument panel in a certified aircraft?

What appears to not be allowed, in an aircraft with an ICAO CofA, is a permanent mount of the GPS itself. A permanent mount of the mount seems to be doable. Obviously this is just the regulatory system playing with words…

Looking at the wider picture, if a permanent mount of the GPS was doable and in the primary view then most of light GA would have Ipads etc in the panel and little else. You can do this in the non-certified sphere.

Wigglyamp’s reply seems a clear representation of what seems to be the current reality.

I haven’t yet been able to find out refs for the FAA system but from casual reading it seems to be the same i.e. the mount can be mounted permanently and the whole thing cannot be in the primary view.

Also, in any regime, you cannot use it to drive an autopilot, because that would require a change to the autopilot AFMS which you will “never” get approved. The same thing also applies to any other autopilot input e.g. a toggle switch which selects one of two nav sources also needs a new AFMS. This is widely ignored in the avionics business.

Now, taking the most strict certification position (anything not shown in the IM of a certified product is not allowed), you cannot connect the GPS to any other aircraft system, either. So a connection of e.g. a Garmin 496 or the Garmin Aera 660 to the aircraft intercom, to make use of the GPWS feature, or the connection of the Pilotaware box to the intercom, are not legal, hey ho hey ho

There is some more general stuff in an older thread here, but a lot of it is inconclusive.

I got this on a US site:

Per FAA Policy PS-ACE-23-01-R1 – Installation of Portable Displays and Electronic Devices in Normal, Utility, and Acrobatic Category Airplanes

The mounting device installation, including the PED system power and data connectivity may be considered a minor alteration. The intended function and operating limitations must be considered in the installation of the mounting device and PED. For an installation to be considered a minor alteration:

…

The mount in small airplanes may be installed in the Primary Maximum Field of View
(as defined in AC 23.1311-1B) but must not be installed in the Primary Field of View and
must not be the primary point of focus.

From AC No: 23.1311-1C:

15.2 Primary Field-of-View. Primary optimum FOV is based on the vertical and horizontal visual fields from the design eye reference point that can be accommodated with eye rotation only. With the normal line-of-sight established at 15 degrees below the horizontal plane, the values for the vertical and horizontal (relative to normal line-of-sight forward of the aircraft) are +/-15 degrees, as shown in figure 1. This area is normally reserved for primary flight information and high priority alerts. Table 3 also provides examples of information recommended for inclusion in this visual field. In most applications, critical information that is considered to be essential for safe flight, with warning or cautionary information that requires immediate pilot action or awareness, should be placed in the primary FOV.

15.3 Primary Maximum Field-of-View. Primary maximum FOV is based on the vertical and horizontal visual fields from the design eye reference point that can be accommodated with eye rotation and minimal head rotation. These values are +/-35 degrees horizontal, and +40 degrees up and -20 degrees down vertical, as shown in figure 1. These areas are normally used for important and frequently used information. A pilot’s visual scan and head rotation is minimized when information is placed in this area. Placement of information in this area also reduces the potential for spatial disorientation. Table 3 provides examples of information recommended for inclusion in this visual field.

So there you go. The FAA allows it, but basically not right in front of the pilot.

Sure.

The FAA says the permanent mount of the mount (subject to where it is) is a Minor Alteration.

Is a connection to the pitot and static pipes not a Minor Alteration? I see nothing in here (esp. page 18) which says it is Major. I know there are other potential parts to that Major/Minor decision chain, but this plumbing goes back to the Wright brothers.

Dirty Harry did say that a conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor is a felony, but combining two Minor Alterations does not make it Major

PS-ACE-23-01-R1 says

If the attached PED can be connected, either wired or wirelessly, to other airplane
systems, it must not transmit any data to installed equipment unless the connection is
specifically approved under TC or STC. Attached PEDs may receive data from installed
equipment.

It doesn’t say you can’t connect to the air plumbing. It is “wireless”, after all

It does mean you cannot connect e.g. audio to the aircraft intercom. But they got the wording wrong because other options include a Field Approval or a DER8110; you don’t need a TC or an STC.