HID Lights for the DA40 (FAA 337)

In a previous post, I lambasted the weak pathetic lights installed on the DA40. These weak 35watt halogen candlelights just didn't cut it when it came to illuminating anything on the runway that you might want to see and avoid. This month, just in time for Christmas, a solution to this problem has appeared. XeVision offers a 50watt HID landing light that registers in at 8300lumens, which is about 10-15 times brighter than the stock halogen lights (500-800lumens). This landing light is model number XV19-W, and is designed as a direct replacement for the factory-spec'd Wheelen lights installed in the leading edge of the DA40 wing. Of course, if you buy a new DA40XLS, it comes with the lights. However, when we contacted Diamond support to see if we could get a service bulletin for the install, they did not provide much assistance (even though it's a drop-in replacement). So, until Diamond gets off their collective butt and gives some support for this much needed upgrade, the other option is to file a 337 form with the FAA that gives approval for a major repair or alteration (FAA form 337 discussion linked to here).

Apparently, all it took was someone to invest in the lighting upgrade and some brave FAA office to sign off on the 337 form. The maintenance shop that completed the upgrade was Advanced Aircraft Services in Lancaster, PA. An excerpt from the Diamond Aviators Association forums is as follows:

"My name is Jim Mazzante and I am a managing partner with Advanced Aircraft Services in Lancaster, PA (KLNS). We are an Authorized Diamond Service Center and have been working on Diamond Aircraft for about 5 years. Some of you may have know me and my Technicians when we worked at Airways. We are currently in the process of installing the HID lights from XeVision and should have them completely installed Thursday or Friday. I will try to post some pictures of the final install and a copy of the 337 once I get it approved from my FSDO. If any of you would like to have the install done, please feel free to contact me. Our direct line is 717-735-5179 or by email: Service@AdvancedAircraftServices.com."

Here's also the FAA Form 337 that Advanced Aircraft Services filed with the FAA and got approved. It's a public document, so any DA40 pilots may wish to use it with your local FAA offices. We've sent this to our trusty mechanics up at Winner Aviation in Youngstown, and are waiting for a quote on the HID light install......with those short Ohio winter nights, we are really looking forward to being able to see down the runway at night!