Re:

["Michael & Josie Scott" <private e-mail address>]

Gary Whitby and all,

As an FAA Certified Repair Station, I can only use on aircraft, or approve
for return to service, parts that comply with one of the following (per FAR
21.303):

1.) Parts produced under a type or production certificate ( the aircraft
manufacturer)
2.) Parts produced by an owner or operator for maintaining or altering his
own product
3.) Parts produced under an FAA TSO (Technical Standard Order)
4.) Standard parts, such as nuts and bolts, conforming  to established
industry or US Specifications.
5.) Parts manufactured under a PMA (parts Manufacturing Approval)

If an aircraft comes to me for Inspection, and it has had anything
replaced.. fabric, PRV's, hoses, etc and the customer can not document
(which permits traceability) that the parts were obtained from one of these
sources. Those parts must be replaced.

The manufacturer or the holder of a PMA (parts manufacturing approval),
there is only 1 that applies to balloons, and that is for fuel hoses. These
sources are required to send documentation with the parts to provide
traceibility. Without this paperwork (part tag, letter of compliance, copy
of pma, whatever), theses parts can not LEGALLY be installed on an aircraft.

You can use aftermarket Pressure Relief Valves, as long as you can document
(through pressure tests, material composition, same method of construction
and other documentation) that they are equal to what is available through
the aircraft manufacturer.


As an example: Two alternators come down the assembly line.. one goes off to
the left and gets put in a box to be sent to the holder of an FAA PMA. The
other goes off to the right and gets put into a box to be sent to Auto Zone.
Are they both the same ? Physically.. YES. Legally... NO. The Alternator
going to the holder of the PMA can be sold as an Approved Aircraft Part. The
alternator going to Auto Zone can not be sold as an approved aircraft part,
because Auto Zone holds no FAA certificate.

Let me know if I can be of any further assistance,
Michael Scott
Flying High Balloon Services
Certified Repair Station # F65R972Y
balloon@webzone.net
www.fhballoon.com

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