and I'm sure that the manufacturer of the motorcycle brake parts used doesn't have PMA or STC either.
Chairman (and others)
Re. the above motorcycle parts mentioned, whether it is part of an STC'd kit/incorporated in a kit made made under a PMA or, for that matter, an OEM, the motorcycle brake manufacturer doesn't have to do anything, aviation wise.
It is the STC/PMA organisation who find the appropriate bits to "conform" to the approved design. They do have to be careful that the motorcycle brake manufacturer does not have conditions of sale barring the aviation use --- I have seen that bear trap happen.
Likewise with standard parts, it is the STC/PMA/OEM that finds compliance with the approved design.
I can't see how that has changed with the "new" rules, it hasn't re. FAA, and FAA and EASA have a high level of harmonisation here, so it sound more like CASA nonsense to me. I have had a quick look through the current CASR 21 etc., and related ACs, maybe a few in CASA can't read.
When it comes to COTS, there is a lot of absolute rubbish talked/written about "aeronautical standards".
Many years ago, there was a big blue here, about the cost of wheel bearings from a (then CAA) "approved supplier", a local CAR 30 shop/LAME was accused of using auto bearings in Cessna wheels that "didn't conform to aeronautical standards".
To the embarrassment of (by the time it came to court) of CASA and the "approved supplier" it was established in evidence that the method of elevation of parts to aeronautical standards, "aeronautical approval" consisted of the approved supplier taking delivery of said bearing from a local commercial bearing specialist, and raising an invoice with company's CASA APPROVAL number, and the bearing number on said invoice.
Of course, the big difference was price, the "bit of paper" that turned the ordinary or common garden variety bearing set into "aviation standard" was a price escalation of about 8+ times.
It was also established that the reason why these bearing were only available in the afternoon was that none were kept in stock, and the bearing company delivered on this aerodrome at around 11.00 am every day.
The same CASA Approved supplier had a slightly more complex method of supplying "aviation standard alternators". The standard Delco auto units would arrive in bulk, about 20 a time. A workman had a set of metal stamps, and a part number and serial number would miraculously appear on the frame of the alternator, the same number on the accompanying crisp, crease free release note. And a tenfold increase in price, compared to Repco retail.
Just today, in a current aviation publication, I have been reading a complete nonsense advertisement about "aviation grade" wheel bearings. Think about how much hard work a set of bearing does in the front wheel hub of your (2000kg RWD) car --- maybe 100,000 km, then think how much work the same bearing does in a Cessna 152 wheel.
Tootle pip!!
PS: Back to the thread. If you want to sell significant numbers, the FAA STC is the way to go, forget CASA