08/24/09 - Concorde Battery Announces New AC 23-27 for Aircraft Battery Installation

Contact: Skip Koss
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Telephone: 626-813-1234 Ext. 231


WEST COVINA, CA – August 24, 2009 - The FAA has just made changing a battery a little simpler for many aircraft owners. FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 23-27, issued in May 2009, allows owners with aircraft Type-Certified before 1980, and meeting certain criteria, to simply replace the current battery on the TC or STC, with an FAA-PMA Concorde battery similar in form, fit and function.

Why is this important? It’s significant because it means, even in the absence of an STC or PMA, there need only be a log book entry to install on many aircraft, whether out of production or still being manufactured today. “These guidelines will help owners avoid having to obtain field approval for like substitutions on subsequent aircraft.”

Applicability:

• Small aircraft type certified before January 1, 1980
• Maximum certificated weight of 12,500 pounds or less
• Fixed wing, un-pressurized, reciprocating engine or sailplane
• “Follow-on Type Certificate (TC) Models of the same aircraft, or a derivative thereof, which may be assigned a later TC date, also meet this criteria.”
  
  Advisory Circular 23-27 is a living document and sections may be added to the Appendices as additional data is gathered. The following information is contained in AC23-27:
  
  Batteries (Excerpt – Appendix 1 “Parts Substitutions”):
  “If one type of series 35 battery (e.g. a Gill 35) is approved as original equipment or a PMA part, and another type of series 35 battery (e.g. a CONCORDE 35) is PMA approved for some aircraft models but not your model aircraft, you may install the alternate type of series 35 battery and document the installation with only a logbook entry.”
  
  “As long as the batteries are the same weight, within plus or minus one pound, and have such similar physical characteristics as to enable the use of the same securing or attaching devices, mechanisms, or containers.”
  
  AC 23-27 is directly accessed on the FAA website via this address:
  
  http://www.faa.gov
  
  Search for Advisory Circular AC23-27
  
  FAA Website
  

Download Printable Format (PDF)

Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view PDF files. This is a free program available from the Adobe Website.
Follow the download instructions on the Adobe Website to get a copy Adobe Acrobat Reader