CERTIFICATION WOES
I read with interest your article on the FAA and the new Part 23 revision in the December 2014 issue of Aviation Consumer, and would like to share my experience of obtaining STC certification and PMA approval.
I began work on a new fiberglass cowling STC for Grumman AA5B Tigers in 2000 and had it ready to fly in 2002. I flew with the first cowling-without approval-for almost two years. The reason I didnt start the actual STC approval process earlier was because of fears of what might be involved. I finally hired a DER in the spring of 2005.