IFD540 Certification Status

1.  The return of HDG mode?   No hope to have that as part of the initial release.  We are still hopeful and expectant of a triumphant return in a later release however.

2.  Any suggested wiring changes?   No, not really.  That is assuming you saw the note in the Pilot Guide about ensuring there is a wire from the 530/540 tray up to the Audio panel in order to get IFD540 generated aural alerts up into your headset.  That uses the same TAWS audio output signal line that a Garmin530TAWS used.    The IM will show what devices can be hooked up via serial com ports (we have 6 of them) and which are using ARINC429  but unless you are adding more devices as part of the IFD540 install, you can use the exact same setup as you are using now with your 530.

Not sure what you mean by first block.  I past 26 months a week ago, but my agreement states the second month of full rate production.  You are probably also in the second month close behind me.

To reply to Tim_M:   I feel compelled to rise to Avidyne's defense in the area of keeping us "...informed on what is happening with [our] investment...".  Patrick's responsibilities are more general, but AviJake Jacobson has been fantastic about keeping the information flow coming.  Witness this six pages of discussion.  I thinkk that, in terms of keeping us informed, Avidyne has been STELLAR.  I speak as someone who regularly had to pull teeth from B-K in order to make them talk about their KSN770 (for which we waited in the dark more than 3 years!), and then whenever they did finally speak it was only to dissemble and mislead.  Kudos to Avidyne...

Question for Avi Jake

After spending hours sifting through all the threads I am unable to figure out exactly what is in involved with swapping a Non W 530 for a 540. I know the 530W is an easy swap, and there are some differences with the Waas unit install; antennae and possibly type of wiring. I have a unique situation in that I am just purchasing an A36 with older non gps radios in it. I am seriously contemplating the prerelease buy on the 540. I was thinking of purchasing a used 530 in the interim and installing. Do they, 530, 530W, 540, all use the same trays and connectors? Could I do the install suited to the 540 and slide the used non W 530 in then replace with the 540 when it arrives? If so, what specifically should I do on the install of the interim used 530 in order to just simply swap in the 540 when it's certified?

Edited by Joe Jet - 22 Dec 2013 at 9:18pm

Outstanding! Sounds like I may have a good plan then.

Thanks for the quick reply Jake. Wasn't expecting that quick of a reply.

Bob et al,

The WASS units take a different antenna and most importantly and costly, an approved antenna cabling.
The cabling is fairly expensive, but the installation of a new cable will be expensive also.
Not a real problem, but is required for WASS signoff.
There may be other changes in addition to the above.

With respect to the bootleg sim requests I'm afraid that's a "Not Yet".  The principal reason is that the Ipad variants we all use back here are not downloadable via the Apple Store yet.  Instead, we have a temporary permission to load the app on our company Ipads from Apple on a serial number by serial number basis for a total max limit of (I think) 20ish seats.

The windows version works fine on touchscreen but I'm not aware of any multi-touch windows touchscreens so we're holding off on distribution of that one right now.

And we simply haven't gotten to the Android variant yet.

Hi Chris,

We'll try this in the public forum because I'm sure there are others who will be very interested in hearing some of the details.  But, if it's easier, don't hesitate to take it offline via email at sjacobson@avidyne.com

That being said, can you elaborate on your question and temporary set up a little more?    I'm assuming you  intend on a dual IFD540 setup eventually and the questions are directed with that intent in mind, right?

For starters, the two biggies are the dual WAAS antenna configuration (or a very easy way to upgrade to WAAS antennas when it's time) and ensuring the two trays are wired together like a "standard dual 530" install.  That is to say, the two IFDs will communicate with each other over Com 3 (serial port 3).  It is typical that dual 530s are set up to crossfill on Com 3 so as a minimum, those two serial ports are wired to support that.   We use the same port (only we communicate via the Byteflgiht Digital Databus across those wires).  We've designed the system so that no additional/different wiring is necessary for that.

We probably want to talk with your installer before any wiring to verify we're all in agreement on the proper gauge wire and circuit breakers.  We can live with the existing wire gauge and CB sizing for retrofit installs but we have a slightly different preference for new installs.

And as noted in other entries/threads, ensure that at least one of your trays supports the "standard 530 TAWS" audio out wiring to the audio panel.  This will ensure you get the IFD540 aurals in your headset.

This next note may be too experimental in nature for what you're doing but we often slide GNS430/430Ws and IFD440s into one of our IFD540 trays and put in a spacer plate to hold the 430/440 in place.  As you may know, the top connectors are all identical between the 530 and 430 and likewise between the 540 and 440.  But in that case, you can fly with a 530 and 430 while waiting for the dual IFD540s to get shipped.

Jake
The scenario that was happening was/is as follows
My original king stack was getting a little tired if you will, so I spoke with Red Eagle Avionics to do a used 530 install while we were waiting for the IFD 540 cert. while in the beginning of the install we were going to move my second nav com to the center stack form the right side of the panel. Knowing that we were doing a dual 540 install Dale decided to give me a 430 to use until the cert happens so he wouldn't have to change any of the wiring in the panel for the second 540. I let him know about the wire to the com and I will forward your last correspondance to him as well. I think that pretty much gets us up to speed as he is finishing the removal and new wiring as we speak. I do know tgat he is installing both new waas antennas this go around as well. Thanks for the help and I am perfectly fine keeping this on public forum so the rest of the customers can use this info as well.

Okay Chris, sounds like you guys are all set.  Probably still worth a quick chat with Dale to check on wire gauge and circuit breaker choices.

As for the touchscreen Windows version, that was a real "duh" on my part.   In fact, I have that exact Acer tablet machine (3 in fact) that we bought because it does do multi-touch that we initially used for IFD540 development before the Ipad app was working.  I'll have to dust that off and see if there is a viable means to distribute that software early.

AviJake wrote: Hi Jayson, The upgrade process should be a breeze.  Every bit of software in the IFD540s are field loadable via the USB port on the front of the bezel/unit.  That means the software can be uploaded using a USB thumb drive.  We do it all the time during development and the whole process takes about 5 minutes. This next part is not a done yet but, it is trending very nicely.   The FAA has just issued updated guidance about what types of actions the individual owner can perform on their aircraft and it appears that software updates, if using an approved Avidyne-supplied service bulletin, may (and I stress the word "may" right now) be permitted.  We are seeking clarification on that one but if that's true, that would even save the time/effort of you having to fly to an approved dealer to have that work done.  If, this new FAA-allowed owner update effort is not permitted for software updates, then it is still a simple process but involves your dealing loading, and signing off the software in accordance with the service bulletin. The need for flight  testing before update signoff will depend on the nature of the update or functionality added.  The vast majority of the envisioned updates would not require a flight to sign off. As for cost to upgrade, that too will depend on the nature of the new content.  Generally speaking, a bug fix load is no cost but a feature add load may have some cost associated with it.

Thanks for the response, although it seems like new years day should be a holiday.  I can understand locking in the features in order to get through certification someday.  Yes it has morphed to competing with the GTNs.  I don't have a 530.  I was originally going to install a used 430W, but with the resale price and install, that doesn't make sense so I'm deciding between the GTN or the 540.  The delta between the 750 and 540 is small compared to getting just the 540+install so I'm trying to compare them and the cost (one of the reasons I wish for a 540 simulator since I'm playing with the GTN simulator now).  Yes I'm looking at getting subscription free weather.  Not knowing what the fis-b display will cost me with the 540 makes it difficult to compare to just putting in a 750.  I had another cost delta come up yesterday.  The 750 cost includes an antenna where 540 does not so that is also eating into the delta price.  Sorry for all the GTN comparisons, but they should be no surprise and I'm just trying to make an informed decision.

Edited by brou0040 - 01 Jan 2014 at 7:30pm

Since it's a new year just want to know, Where are we as far as the plan is concerned? (Notice I didn't say schedule) What's been accomplished and what's left ahead?

Did we get past the issues and have resolution on all of the 30 or so FAA issues that came out of the FAA flights?

Any chance of shipping the ifd540, amx240, and 340 trays ahead of the STC so I can get the tech to begin wiring my stuff up on then bench?

Edited by tony - 02 Jan 2014 at 6:40am

Thanks for the update, and happy new year, Steve.

We are pretty far in to the testing step described in #4.  

Believe it or not Joe, the Honeywell stuff on the 777, 717, etc was written to do-178. It's not so much the standard but the integrity of the company that makes a good product.

In! Sent my payment and agreement for an IFD 540 yesterday. Looks like im 7th month of production.

Any word on the audio panel and/or transponder certification?

Just the 540. No actual dates, just 7th production month. Im still looking for a deal on a 430 or 530 in the interim and will be doing the install for the 540 soon. We just took delivery of our aircraft a week ago. Going to the avionics shop in a few days to form a plan of attack. I have an older PMA, 6000? and KT76A. I know the new Avidyne audio and txpdr might be slide in replacements for some units and the newer PMA with BT is a slide in replacement for some units also; need to do more homework in that area.

Edited by Joe Jet - 07 Jan 2014 at 10:09pm

I am hoping that the 430W I am replacing with a 540, will hold its value a little longer. I have no option to sell it now, as it would make the plane unsuitable for its mission.

tony wrote: I agree with cascade..... and if you were around Tim, you would see that our inputs into the product are listened to, and the development schedule is status'd the best Steve can. Avidyne may not agree with our inputs or suggestions but we do have an audience. Tim perhaps you should read the pages and pages of what's here first before you insert your foot in your mouth again.

I was not going to reply to the foot in mouth comment but.... 

I made no comment about whether Avidyne was listening to customers.  I said that they weren't being as up front about delays and that Patrick owed those of us who invested 10 - 20$K (I am in for both boxes) to tell us what was up rather than waiting till he had something exciting to say.  I think "We missed the date again" is important enough rather than waiting another 3 months (Avijake said recently he expects to submit in Q1, not the same thing as January).

I did read the threads, though I saw no reason to go back to the previous delay dates to see how they handled it.  On 26 nov someone asked the status.  This was followed by guesses on the part of posters but nothing from Avidyne.  On 2 Dec someone said they could wait but were unhappy.  On 3 Dec Avijake only said anything about the Pilots guide.  On 10 Dec someone asked again the status and said obviously the end of year wouldn't happen.  That's when Avijake said Patrick was going to send us a letter. and said "for those parsing every sylable, we won't make Dec 31."

I put my money down in spite of a friend saying it was a bad idea because of the history of delays.  I will wait a bit and have not asked for my money back but may soon if I continue to feel strung along.  Avijake's detailed answer ws good but unfortunately followed by the more vague Q1 post.

Hi Bruce,

I don't know what happened but I just spoke with the finance department and they showed me it's on the Friday check run.

Steve

Bob,

Will tackle that later today when I return to the office (currently stuck in NH waiting out the weather). With the 28v airplane, I recall we're recommending the exact same gauge and CB size as the 530. It's the 14v aircraft where we recommend a thicker wire and slightly higher CB for new installs. But, I'll double check when I make it back.

Good Morning Steve, 

Hi Steve,