**Yellow Tag vs. FAA 8130-3?

Avionics Masters is an FAA Certified Repair Station and Supplies all serviceable or Overhauled avionics with an FAA authorized Maintenance Release form 8130-3

Does a yellow tag satisfy the requirements of a maintenance release?

You must first understand that there's no legal definition of a yellow tag. Regardless of the fact that there are logbooks out there that are full of them, the term "yellow tag" isn't mentioned anywhere in FAR Part 43.

Yellow tags were first used by the Army Air Corps back in the early days of World War II. No reason was given why the color yellow was picked to indicate a serviceable component. Most of us would have picked the color green for serviceable and yellow for repairable – not the other way around.

I suspect, based on my own military experience, that the decision to use yellow for serviceable parts was probably made by an Army supply clerk who ordered a million yellow tags by mistake and had to find a use for them or be shipped to a combat area.

Regardless, after the war, the airlines stayed with the military tradition of using yellow tags as a serviceable item. Following their lead, the rest of general aviation bought in – and yellow tags became part of aviation terminology and culture.

The only FAA approved maintenance release under FAR Part 43, Appendix B is The FAA form 8130-3 a yellow tag does not provide any of the requirements for the return to service for avionics components.  It’s all a myth and few yellow tags provide the information required by the FAA.  And many yellow tags are placed on components removed from aircraft by A&P’s without the inspection required by the regulations, it is not satisfactory to turn the component on before removing it and then yellow tag the component as approved for return to service. The component must be tested and inspected according to the manufacturers specifications which cannot be performed any where else than in an FAA approved repair facility.

WARRANTY POLICY

The Avionics Masters warranty guarantees that all units. Inspected, Repaired, Overhauled or Modified will be free from defects in material and workmanship for the period of time specified .. The determination of defective operation is generally defined as failure to operate within manufacturer specifications.  Obligation under this warranty will be limited to repair of the unit by Avionics Masters within the stipulated warranty period.  Warranty replacement of exchanged or purchased units will be determined by Avionics Masters
Avionics Masters will not assume any cost or responsibility for equipment removal, examination, reinstallation or freight costs to return the unit to Avionics Masters, unless otherwise agreed.  Under no circumstances will Avionics Masters be liable for costs incurred by the repair of the unit by another facility.  Repairs performed on units under warranty does not extend the original warranty expiration date.  No other warranties, obligations or liabilities are expressed or implied. In no event shall Avionics Masters be liable for special or consequential damages. Avionics Masters will not honor any warranty if examination discloses that failures were the result of external causes including errors in application, handling or shipping

Avionics Masters ships all units to customers via United Parcel Ground unless otherwise specified by the customer.  Unless other arrangements have been made, most shipping charges will be prepaid by the customer..

DAMAGED UNITS

Avionics Masters will insure all outgoing shipments of units for freight damages. If a unit is damaged in shipment, Avionics Masters will invoice the shipper for the required repairs. We cannot be responsible for damages to a unit after it leaves our facility.  If a unit is shipped to Avionics Masters without adequate insurance and is damaged, the customer will be responsible for the repairs to the unit. This applies to all units including return of loaners to Avionics Masters