Quote check

Insanely high. That's essentially quoting 137 hours of work to install a single G5 HSI (20-25 hours or so, depending on who you ask) and a transponder (another 20 hours, if we're being generous). Add another 20 hours to remove the old wiring, you're still at roughly half the hours they are quoting.

Additionally, why isn't the shop quoting the Garmin encoder (GAE12) that mounts to the back of the GTX345, which is like $250 and simple to install? Not looking out for you there, for sure.

Further, why are you being charged $45 for a "G5 Pilot's guide?"
 
@Jesse Saint = 140 hours does appear a tad high.

As for the parts, well the bits cost what the bit maker says they cost.
 
This shop is notoriously expensive, so its not a surprise that its as overpriced as it is. Have a few other quote requests out there as well, this just so happened to be the first one that came in.
 
Roughly 135 hours or 3 and a half weeks of labor. No idea if this is high or not but it sounds like a lot of work. Maybe this shop is actually trying to make a profit?
 
Yes. That seems way high.

But you have to remember that everyone has been saying for years that avionics shops were going to be swamped ahead of the 2020 ADSB mandate. Now that 2020 is only 9 months away, it is only to be expected that shops are going to be jacking up their rates. That is why I had it done two years ago. What was the reason you put this off so long.
 
JOhnH said:
Yes. That seems way high.

But you have to remember that everyone has been saying for years that avionics shops were going to be swamped ahead of the 2020 ADSB mandate. Now that 2020 is only 9 months away, it is only to be expected that shops are going to be jacking up their rates. That is why I had it done two years ago. What was the reason you put this off so long.
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We bought the airplane 2 months ago.
 
Groundpounder said:
We bought the airplane 2 months ago.
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That's a good answer. I started to ask if that might be the reason, but I didn't want to get too wordy.
But the fact remains, we have know that avionics shops were going to be swamped pre-2020 and that is what you may be running into.
 
JOhnH said:
That's a good answer. I started to ask if that might be the reason, but I didn't want to get too wordy.
But the fact remains, we have know that avionics shops were going to be swamped pre-2020 and that is what you may be running into.
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That I understand. One of the other shops I'm waiting for a quote from is booked till August. As long as it gets done before Dec 31, 2019, I don't really care. It'd be awesome to have it done next week, but I understand that isn't a realistic expectation.
 
I just did exactly this work (G5 HSI with the modules, and GTX345) for $13,700. They did a great job.
 
Groundpounder said:
Mind if I ask where that shop is located?
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Just north of Pittsburgh, PA. That cost included refurbishment of my altimeter and VSI, removal of the vacuum system, and a few other bits and pieces.
 
Katamarino said:
Just north of Pittsburgh, PA. That cost included refurbishment of my altimeter and VSI, removal of the vacuum system, and a few other bits and pieces.
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OK. We'll see what we get for other quotes from shops in this area. If they are bigly more than what you spent, it might be worth flying the airplane down there.
 
I’d actually call them up and tell them to go F themselves. Seriously. Don’t give an eff who they are, that is an insult quote. If you are stupid enough to approve it, you should be drawn and quartered....
 
Odd that price for the in/out 345 looks low. And the encoder should come with it.

Labor cost is crazy
 
Unit74 said:
I’d actually call them up and tell them to go F themselves. Seriously. Don’t give an eff who they are, that is an insult quote. If you are stupid enough to approve it, you should be drawn and quartered....
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Drawn, like one of your french girls?
 
Looks like you need another quote or two.
 
Is all the labor quoted at overtime rates?

I've seen work orders where the whole thing was quoted in overtime, they wanted it done ASAP.
 
bnt83 said:
Is all the labor quoted at overtime rates?

I've seen work orders where the whole thing was quoted in overtime, they wanted it done ASAP.
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I’m pretty sure Gulf Coast does all their quotes in this fashion....
 
bnt83 said:
Is all the labor quoted at overtime rates?

I've seen work orders where the whole thing was quoted in overtime, they wanted it done ASAP.
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That's a good point. As 2020 rolls around, a lot of avionics techs are going to be pulling down a lot of overtime. And when a service is in great demand and the supply is low, guess what happens. Someone that was making $x/hour is now making half again that much, and that half again is multiplied by time and a half overtime.

We are going to see a lot more of this in the coming months.
 
This is very high. When it comes to getting your avionics upgrade, you have to shop around. I would also consider review because you don't want to spend a lot of money and not be satisfied with the work.
 
Ravioli said:
@Jesse Saint = 140 hours does appear a tad high.

As for the parts, well the bits cost what the bit maker says they cost.
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What does this have to do with me? My quote would be less including equipment than their labor charge.
 
This would probably cost less than $12,000 out the door at my shop. Details may be slightly different, but same end result.

I never cease to be amazed at what big shops charge for installation. It’s not that complicated.
 
Yes.

Found out this particular shop has a policy to quote the "worst case". Well, their worst case is going to be an empty hangar one of these days.....
 
Jesse Saint said:
This would probably cost less than $12,000 out the door at my shop. Details may be slightly different, but same end result.

I never cease to be amazed at what big shops charge for installation. It’s not that complicated.
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Where are you located?
 
Skyrys62 said:
Even so, you could still fly some, just not in specific airspace right? Shops may be less swamped and cheaper soon after Dec. 31st.
Just a thought..
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There is enough B and C airspace in this area that our operations would be severely impacted.
 
Wow crazy expensive quote. Also consider using the Garmin GAE 12 altitude encoder. It's $225 and is nearly zero labor cost to install. It's designed to work with the GTX-335/345 transponder.

-David
 
The parts are reasonable, but the labor is ridiculous.

Find somewhere, anywhere else!
 
Groundpounder said:
Where are you located?
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Jesse (Saint Aviation) is located in Dunnellon FL. I recently had work done there and it's worth the trip. First class shop, quick service and reasonable pricing. He also charges what he quotes. I wouldn't hesitate to go back there. Great folks!
 
I decided to query the shop that gave me the quote as to why it was so high, and why they don't want to use the GAE 12 encoder. He said the labor comes from installing the magnetometer in the wing for the G5 HSI and removing the old antennas and wiring. He said they don't want to use the GAE 12 because the GNS530 needs baro corrected altitude which it cannot get from the GAE, it would have to come from the GTX345, which is "not a preferred method".

:dunno:
 
Groundpounder said:
I decided to query the shop that gave me the quote as to why it was so high, and why they don't want to use the GAE 12 encoder. He said the labor comes from installing the magnetometer in the wing for the G5 HSI and removing the old antennas and wiring. He said they don't want to use the GAE 12 because the GNS530 needs baro corrected altitude which it cannot get from the GAE, it would have to come from the GTX345, which is "not a preferred method".

:dunno:
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The magnetometer isn't THAT hard to install; I installed one in the wing of my Twin Bonanza, which involved routing the wiring though the nacelle (lots of tight twists and turns) and all the way out to the wingtip (big wing). It took maybe half a day. Another half a day or so to get the mount tweaked and attached.

The excuse on the 530 and the GTX345 not being the "preferred" method is pretty bogus. Not "preferred" by who? While it may not be the "preferred" method, is it an acceptable method?
 
That's a crock. I got a 65 hour quote for a full G3x 10.5+7 install with engine monitor, G5 backup, second GTN650, wiring up my STEC30 to the G3x for GPSS and heading, and a 345. Also, that 345 price is even marked up by $300.
 
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