Avionics News July 2014 - 51

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Photo by Dave Higdon

significant number of pilots and aircraft owners
an online familiarization course and simulator to give
should see their patience rewarded this summer,
prospective owners some advance exposure to the
when the Federal Aviation Administration gives
IFD540's friendly user interface and the two input
approvals to Avidyne's eagerly anticipated IFD540 and,
options: touchscreen or bezel buttons.
if all works as expected, an AML STC (approved model
Meanwhile, in the interim until first deliveries, I had
list supplemental type certificate) to pave the path to
the experience of installing and flying with an IFD540.
both deliveries and installations of this innovative MFD/
During this experience, simplicity and efficiency marked
navigator/communicator.
the IFD540 during some quality time with the model in
Time recently spent reading Avidyne's IFD540
Avidyne's test-bed aircraft, a Cessna 182.
customer website revealed a palpable sense of anticipation
- along with a bit of frustration at program delays that
The Entegra Release 9
pushed completion and deliveries far behind plan.
two-step to simplicity
Some customers sought refunds; most decided to hang
The Avidyne staff members who led the product
in there and stay patient. Among those eager to see the
demonstration joked that they call the 540 "son of R9"
IFD540 could be owners of Garmin's GNS 530, which,
and "R9-in-a-box" after the advanced Entegra Release
with the smaller GNS 430, launched the all-in-one
9 integrated flight deck system. Every function is never
revolution that still dominates avionics stacks nearly two
more than two clicks or turns away from anywhere in the
decades later.
540's vast array of abilities.
But Avidyne created and marketed the IFD540
For an aviator who covets the capabilities of an R9
specifically as a plug-and-play
system, Avidyne truly seems to
replacement for the Garmin GNS
have offered a high-value path
530 and the IFD440 to replace the
to this level of capabilities,
GNS 430. Some aircraft owners
sophistication and, in a direct steal
who attended the 40th annual Sun
from R9, ease of use.
'n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Florida,
In fact, the 540 could vie for top
April 1-6, noted they are attracted
honors in any ease-of-use contest
by Avidyne's installation process
in avionics - and another prize for
- literally remove the old, slide in
its value equation thanks to the
the new, log the change, complete
depth of capabilities indigenous
the paperwork and perform the
to the box compared to its lunchinitial setup.
break installation time.
This won't be a boon to the
Allied with an ADS-B In
avionics repair shops and dealers
receiver, the IFD540 will offer
delivering and installing the
hazard-avoidance assistance for
IFD540s - or, later, the IFD440
traffic and weather; without and
units. From the first tool twist
the box still provides a level of
to the last pen entry, the process
obstacle- and terrain-avoidance
should take no more than 30
protection equal to stand-alone
minutes - leaving another 30 to
boxes costing thousands of dollars
help introduce the new owner to
- and requiring a separate, annual
the basics needed to get started
database update.
The IFD540 has a port on the front bezel for datausing the new box.
base updates via USB Jump Drive. It can be used
Additionally, Avidyne offers
Continued on following page
for charging an iPad or iPhone while in flight.
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Avionics News July 2014

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