Handheld airband transceiver

[woottsbj25]

Hi everyone,

I've searched around the forums, and found some threads but nothing up-to-date as far as I could see.

I've just passed my PPL flight test, and I've been reccomended strongly by a number of people that I get myself an airband transceiver to carry with me in my flight bag now I'm going to be off on my own a fair bit.

Anyone have any reccomendations as to which one? Obviously I'd like to be able to plug my headset into it (I've got a DC 13.4 set), but I've heard that some Icom ones don't work too well with that.

Also, does anyone know of a good place to find some second hand ones? Decent new ones seem to be a little on the pricey side considering I'm (hopefully) never going to need to use it. I've had a quick look on eBay but there seems to be very little on there.

Thanks for any help!

[S205-18F]

You can get a brand new one a Vertex VXA300 Pilot from HonKong on fleabay for around £125 posted it has vor and other goodies including headset adaptor batteries charger. I have seen the same ones on the aviation dealers websites but you need to pay extra for the headset adaptor which is a ripoff as the package is complete from the factory. Hope this helps. I just realised there are cheaper ones too but they dont have the bells and whistles.

[trevs99uk]

I read somewhere recently that the CAA can no longer approve transciever as the responsiblity has moved to EASA, and EASA have no approval process they just accept transceivers as they are.

[S205-18F]

CFN1 do I presume then that all handheld radios other than the Icom range are not legal in the UK? Bendix King, Delcom, Vertex etc are Illegal!!

[S205-18F]

Ok CFN1 I did not mean to be rude I was surprised more than anything as I know a lot of people use various handies as backup and some for non radio planes as their main radio! I did know there was a approved radio list but thought that most manufacturers would have their radios on it. See what thought did!
No offence taken and no offence meant!
John.

[rateone]

I'm confused. I could see why "semi-permanent" Transceiver installations could be an issue re "approvals" after all the same applies to panel mounted installations for which all sorts of approvals and licences are required but what's the problem with a handheld for emergency use? I agree with WR. If you have a radio failure and then respond to the ATC unit on a handheld how is anyone going to know whether the unit is approved or not? Does the CAA have a transceiver detector van?;) Better to be heard on anything than not be heard at all.