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Unfortunately the IC-A210 was approved for installation (by an appropriately approved person) for VFR operation below 10,000ft under CAR 35. CASA has advised that as CAR35 has lapsed, an approval appropriate to CASR 21 is now required. This has proven uneconomic and impractical in the short term. In the longer term, a fully TSO'ed version (which will be acceptable to CASA) is planned. RAAus requires that fixed mount radios have a CASA approval. To quote from the RAAus tutorial: "If it is a fixed installation only Civil Aviation Safety Authority [CASA] approved apparatus may be used; refer to AIP GEN 1.5 para 1.1. " As the IC-A210 approval is no longer valid, Icom can't import it, as it would then fall under ACMA rules, and it is not ACMA approved either. However, as we understand it, as usual, under grandfathering provisions, planes with the A210 installed while the radio was approved can continue to use them. John R.

The Vertex VXA220 did indeed use a screw thread on the external lead socket, but while this is (generally) fine if you're using a headset adapter, it's not so good if you're trying to attach a cable to an intercom as it means twisting the radio because you sometimes can't twist the cable if it's permanently wired in. On top of this, the original plug can be a bit temperamental about how hard it is screwed in. Not far enough and it won't work at all, too far and you run the risk of destroying the plug (it just twists itself apart - I learnt that from bitter experience.). So, some installations use the original Vertex screw plug with the threads filed off and water sealing O ring removed so that it can simply be plugged straight in. It's not waterproof without these, but it's generally not an issue. You do have to make sure that it's pushed in all the way. So take a look at the top of the plug to see if there used to be threads there..... John R.

Some background that may help. The most recent (current) ACMA standard for air band radios (ground mobile and ground portables) which CASA also requires for portables in aircraft (refer AIP GEN 1.5-3) was enacted in 2012, and Icom Australia expected new compliant models to be available from Icom Japan before stocks of the old ones ran out. Unfortunately, this did not happen, and the revised model(s) have not yet been manufactured. Icom is working with ACMA to see if special permission can be provided for the interim supply of one of the other portable models to meet industry demand. However, this is currently in the hands of the ACMA, so it's impossible to give a reliable timeframe for when or if this will happen. The IC-A210 has been permanently discontinued as it was previously approved for installation by CASA via a CAR 35 process but this instrument has lapsed in favour of CASR21. Units previously installed may continue to be used, but new installations are no longer approved. (RAAus requires that fixed mount radios carry CASA approval, according to the tutorial.) see: approved apparatus may be used; refer to AIP GEN 1.5']http://www.recreationalflying.com/tutorials/comms/licence.html#communications which reads: "If it is a fixed installation only Civil Aviation Safety Authority [CASA] approved apparatus may be used; refer to AIP GEN 1.5" I hope this helps John R.