Avionics News November 2015 - 37
ing face-to-face conversations at shows like EAA AirVenture and through the Garmin support forums. "All of the core members of the experimental team monitor the G3Xpert email address," Hupe said. Economics is another consideration. A WAAS GPS is built into every G3X display, but it does not perform to ADS-B (or IFR approach) standards. "We looked at making that step, but we couldn't get there with the hardware involved, and the separate GPS 20A provided more options without burdening the cost of the core G3X system," Hupe said. Some builders might already have a certified position source, a GNS 430/530W or a GTN 650/750, he explained, or they may live in countries where ADS-B is not required. The future for all avionics for the experimental market will certainly be influenced by the FAA's rewrite of the Part 23 certification requirements. Based on ASTM standards, they itemize the required performance standards and give manufacturers more flexibility in how they achieve them. The certification of light sport aircraft employs this system, and it suggests one possible result, Hupe said, but the FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency won't answer this "million dollar question" until they issue and harmonize their final rules. Flight Design is pursuing its new four-seat C4 with the new Part 23 requirements in mind. It combines the certified GTN series with G3X displays that it hopes to certify with the airframe, a la light sport aircraft. "We're excited about partnering with them on the C4 project," Hupe said. But regardless of the FAA's final rule, Garmin is committed to the market and focused on developing new products and capabilities for its line of experimental and light sport aircraft avionics. q Does the customer service you receive last well after the service event is over? After two years of perfect operation, a customer reached out to Jim Wheaton, Duncan Aviation systems engineer in Battle Creek, Michigan, when his Wi-Fi suddenly started acting up. For no apparent reason, he had virtually no signal in the forward cabin, impacting both the internet and the wireless handsets. Jim responded quickly, with schematic snapshots and detailed information of the installation process. And he gave the customer step-by-step and pictorial instructions on where to look and what it was supposed to look like. Armed with this new information, the customer was able to attribute the interruption in service to a faulty Wi-Fi antenna. The antenna was replaced and service was restored. For the rest of the story visit www.DuncanAviation.aero/experience/jim.php. Experience. Unlike any other. +1 402.475.2611 | 800.228.4277 Avionics News_Jim_August 19 2015.indd 1 avionics news * november 2015 8/5/2015 37 3:25:03 PM