IFD540 Pilot Program

Here is a cut and paste of an email that just went out to all IFD540 pre-buy customers concerning the IFD540 Pilot Program:

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Hello and thank you again for pre-buying one (or more) Avidyne IFD540 FMS/GPS/NAV/COM(s).   The objective of this email is to introduce the “IFD540 Pilot Program” and to solicit participation from our early adopters. 

The IFD540 is an exciting product and we believe that one key to making it very successful is for the early full-rate shipping and installations to be as smooth as feasible – both from the ease of installation to the way the unit operates.  One way we’re trying to accomplish that is via this IFD540 Pilot Program and that’s why we’re asking for your help. Are you interested in participating in our IFD540 Pilot Program?

Our plan for the IFD540 Pilot Program is to install a small number of the IFD540s into aircraft right after certification and to collect data and feedback on the installations and unit performance in the field before opening up full-rate shipping and installation.  While we are extensively testing the units both in our labs and in our company aircraft prior to release, we feel it is critical to try and catch any potential early-on “gotchas” before widespread installations begin.   We anticipate the IFD540 Pilot Program to begin immediately after we receive TSO/STC approval from the FAA (currently on track for the summer of 2013) and to last between 3 to 5 weeks.  If we determine there was some issue that needed to get resolved prior to full-rate shipping and installations, we would create a lull between the IFD540 Pilot Program and full-rate shipping and installation to give us time to correct whatever the issue was in order to enhance customer and installer experiences and product behavior.   If no such issues are discovered, then we’ll transition right into full-rate shipping and installations after we declare the IFD540 Pilot Program to be over.

In order to cover as diverse a cross-section of the customer base as feasible in the IFD540 Pilot Program, we do have some criteria that we’re looking for in any volunteers.  While we’d like most participant aircraft to be US-based 530W-equipped aircraft, we are looking for a few non-WAAS aircraft owners who want to stay with non-WAAS installs, a few non-WAAS aircraft owners who want to upgrade to WAAS, a few non-530 equipped aircraft and a few non-US-based aircraft.  Depending on the number of volunteers and their aircraft configurations and locations, it is possible that we will not use everyone who has expressed interest in  participating in the IFD540 Pilot Program.

Some program details:

• This will be a fully certified product and come with a full ship kit and documentation;

• The owner is responsible for covering any “normal” installation costs;
• Avidyne will cover the costs of upgrading any software or hardware that may result from discoveries made during the IFD540 Pilot Program;
• Since the expected duration is so short, we ask you be prepared to install the unit as soon as possible once the program begins – we understand some of the logistical challenges this may invoke upon you and the installation shop but we really hope the installation can be begun within a few days of program start date;
• Since we’re trying to collect a lot of data and feedback quickly, we are also expecting that participants fly their aircraft regularly during the duration of the IFD540 Pilot Program.  Avidyne goals are for participant aircraft to average a minimum of 5 flight hours per week during the program.  We’re also looking for a cross section of VFR and IFR flights among the aggregate group;
• As part of collecting the data and feedback, participant aircraft are expected to download the unit data logs from the USB port on the front bezel of the unit and send that data along to Avidyne on at least a weekly frequency (we’ll supply method of data transmission at a later date);
• Installations are to be conducted at an Avidyne approved “IFD540 Pilot Program Avionics Shop”.   We have not defined that list of shops yet and the questionnaire link will ask you to identify your preferred avionics shop and ask you about your flexibility in using a different shop, just in case;
• Early versions of user documentation (e.g. Pilot Guides) and computer/tablet-based training/familiarization software will be sent to participants electronically prior to the start of the program to serve as a form of head-start in knowing how to fully use the product;
• Avidyne expects that any feedback created during the IFD540 Pilot Program be confidential and shared only with Avidyne during the Pilot Program.

If you have any questions about the program before volunteering, please use http://www.avidynelive.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=261&title=ifd540-pilot-program  to post your question for all to see OR  send an email to Steve Jacobson, at sjacobson@avidyne.com

For those that are interested in volunteering to be part of the IFD540 Pilot Program, we have a short questionnaire for you to fill out that can be accessed via this website link http://www.avidyne.com/support/ifd540-pilot-program/index.asp.   Thank you for helping us make this the best product possible.

Edited by AviJake - 15 Feb 2013 at 3:03pm

Ye-Ha.

I got a nice place for one!

* Orest

What benefit is there to an Owner for being part of this program?

I have some interest in signing up for this, but never received the email (I put in a partial payment deposit in August 2012).  I went ahead and fillled out the survey at the link anyway.

Also, a minor point, but for the first question for "do you want to participate," the "undecided" option was unavailable for me in Firefox but could be selected with Internet Exploder (I strongly prefer to stick with my avionics shop).

Any update on this?  All in all, I'd rather you spend time on certification, but it would nice to know whether I should plan for an install ca August, or January.   (And accordingly, what I'll be doing with my spare time in August - September, like finding even more reasons to fly, and for longer distances ...  ;>  )

Best,
Jon

Well I check in twice a day, I wouldn't miss it.

* Orest

Will do.

* Orest

Hi Tim,

 I'll have to take a quick peek at the data we've compiled and let you know what the likelihood of your aircraft will be.