KennethK wrote:
Samionics in Eskilstuna. Top quality and top experience with Sam in every aspects of our panel upgrade.
I second that.
Our club has used DAO in Roskilde. I don’t have personal experience but the avionics seems to work fine so far.
Agree with the names above. Beyond them:
For engine overhaul we’ve used and had good experience with ScanAviation in Kastrup.
For avionics, I was last fall at a Garmin workshop hosted by GA Service in Roskilde. Have never used them but their workshop looked top-notch and the people knowledgeable.
Any recommendations for UK avionics shops? Purpose is to install a DME unit on my tb20
Airborne_Again wrote:
KennethK wrote:
Samionics in Eskilstuna. Top quality and top experience with Sam in every aspects of our panel upgrade.
I second that.
Late answer, but for sure…Samionics at Eskilstuna (ESSU) is our (almost) local shop and the first one I would call.
GA Service at Roskilde (EKRK):
Is very professional with what the do, they are not the cheapest.
But you get what you pay for. And the help you out much as they can.
Very friendly.
Samionics at Eskilstuna (ESSU):
Never used Sam, but I talk with him several times over the phone for lots of hours.
He is extremely friendly and have a very good knowledge.
I asked him tons of stuff and he more or less always take the time to explain everything in detail for you.
I hope I can use his services in the future.
UdoR wrote:
I do not share the positive experience with Straubing. I don’t mean to share the details here, because it is an open forum. But I’ve not seen the degree of professionalism for handling critical IFR avionics.
I have had my own experience with them.
Peter wrote:
Straubing is incredibly popular in Germany. They are the “must go there” shop. And they look after their valued regular clients, with loan units etc. These clients in turn are always posting about this. I have never used them myself but had some comms with them and they were, shall we say, entirely unsatisfactory. When I mentioned this to one local customer I was told it is one particular person there.Porta Air Service were also mentioned here.
In my case, my Sandel 3500 was defective, the shop doing maintenance didn’t have a clue so sent it to Straubing. They then “tested” it, claimed it needed to be sent to the manufacturer who then contacted me to ask why Straubing had sent it to them when it was just a defective bulb? I complained to the manager in Straubing about this, especially as the repairs from Sandel was a flat $2000 fee. For changing a bulb. The response was…….
…well, my letters went unanswered, when I called on the phone, I was effectively ignored….
Since then I won’t touch them with a 10’ barge pole….
Correction, need to edit my post but outside of the time limit. We had a Sandel 3308 which had the bulb in the back to project onto the screen, not a 3500 with the LED screen. And to pay $2k just because the avionics guy couldn’t identify a burnt out bulb was ridiculous…..
My Narco 890 apparently needs some repair. It has been working fine but recently has been unreliable at picking up operational DMEs. For example, on a recent VOR/DME approach it wouldn’t give me any DME distance. Once on the ground, I noticed that it was reading ok again.
Had my avionics shop take a look and they said that the device’s output transmissions were weak, which of course would lead to a lack of response from any DME not able to pick it up. The shop was either unable or just uninterested in pursuing the problem further.
Most avionics shops these days seem to have lost the skills and/or equipment to repair avionics. They have the test equipment needed to do installation and recurring measurement work, but if an device needs any sort of repair it just goes off to the manufacturer. The manufacturers also seem to be encouraging that with their products.
Anyone know of someone (FAA-certified) who is able to actually do avionics repairs, specifically on my Narco 890? There was a fellow in the US who made a business of this, but I notice that he has just retired (mikesavionics.com). It is likely a dying breed.
I’ve taken a look at the maintenance manual and the electronics is pure analog with lots of adjustable elements. The troubleshooting chapter is very detailed, but needs someone who knows their craft. I have no idea if sourcing any of the individual parts is an issue or not, should that be required.
The alternative would be to a) replace the Narco 890 with a used one from a place like Bennet Avionics which is quoting them for $1’295 incl 90-day warranty. Replacement with a King KN63/KI572 would cost up to $3’000 and in addition require panel and installation work. All DME devices seem to also have old display technology which is more or less unavailable any more, so there is a risk of just getting something installed and then losing the display.
I’ve heard rumours that Garmin is planning to come out with a DME, but that could just be somebody’s wishful thinking.
