Avionics News August 2016 - 52

CAPABILITY,
GIS 25 years' experience provides
quality service of instruments, specializing in altimeters, panel mounted
and remote gyros, including:
KCS55A SYSTEM
KCS305 SYSTEM
KI-256
KEA-346
KVG-350
PN101 SYSTEM
332D-11 SERIES
DGS-65
C-14 SERIES

510 SERIES
NSD 360 SYSTEM
1100 SERIES
1200 SERIES
205 SERIES
4300 SERIES
5000 B SERIES
4000 B SERIES
VG-14 SERIES

RELIABILITY,
Experienced and trained technicians embody a dedicated focus to the customer
expectations that is key to GIS reliability
and customer service. An investment
in updated technology and equipment
enables efficient operations. A family atmosphere is fostered at GIS that insures
the shop runs as a team effort. It is reminiscent of what customers embraced in
the aviation industry years ago.

QUALITY.

Competitive prices, high-quality workmanship, quick turnaround time and
service. GIS personnel have the ability
to meet that challenge to exceed customers' expectations every day. That's
why customers depend upon GIS
full services, from testing, overhaul,
and repairs to exchanges and outright sales.
Try us, you'll be glad you did!

GEORGETOWN
INSTRUMENT SERVICES
FAA CRS# GTNR482X
210 Airport Road * Taylor, Texas 76574

512-352-9000

www.georgetowninstruments.com
52

avionics news

*

august

2016

APPS & ADS-B

Continued from page 51

components. Pilots can create suites
of individual apps that perform
the functions, but to simplify their
cockpit workload, pilots usually
download an app that combines all
of these capabilities. Some of the
most popular are ForeFlight Mobile,
Garmin Pilot, and Hilton Software's
WingX Pro7. Depending on the
download source, the apps are free
or have a nominal cost and a free
introductory period. The ongoing
expense is the subscription for
the desired charts, updated on the
28-day cycle through a terrestrial
Wi-Fi connection.
Before integrating a tablet in a
cockpit network, avionics technicians
must have a working knowledge
of the tablet, usually an Apple
iPad, and a thorough understanding
of the app, how to navigate its
setup pages, and its compatibility
with avionics hardware. It is not
overly complicated, according to
ForeFlight's Angela Anderson, but
technicians must ensure that the
"installed avionics are connecting
to the iPad via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
(as applicable); the AHRS (or
backup attitude) input is calibrated
and working properly; the GPS
feed is working properly; that the
flight plan transfer feature performs
as expected; and, if there is a
compatible ADS-B receiver, that
weather and traffic information is fed
to the app."
Not all apps have all of these
features. What's available depends
on individual development projects
between the app maker and the
avionics equipment manufacturer.
Staying current with the list of
compatible avionics equipment for
aviation requires ongoing research.
"The aspect requiring the most
attention is probably the hardware
that contains the AHRS source,"

Anderson said. "In the case of the
Garmin Flight Stream, Garmin
provides specific installation
instructions about how to properly
position the hardware when
installing it in the aircraft."
Because pilots are reluctant
to surrender their tablets for the
install, technicians should have a
shop tablet loaded with the same
apps used by their customers.
When troubleshooting, ForeFlight,
Garmin, and Hilton Software urged
shops to involve the app company
early in the process to draw on their
ever-growing body of knowledge on
how the apps perform in the field.
"Every aircraft is unique, so the
answer may not be immediately
apparent," Anderson said.
When returning the aircraft to
the customer, shops should use the
pilot's tablet in the demonstration
of the new system's capabilities.
Running through all of the app's
features confirms that pilot's tablet
integrates with the system and that
each function performs as expected,
such as uploading the flight plan
to an IFR navigator. This function
test should include the pilot's
backup device, often an iPad Mini
or iPhone loaded with the same
app. While this takes time, it builds
customer satisfaction by preventing
expensive fix-it returns to the shop.
Preinstall planning
What apps the customer uses
should be an integral part of the
preinstall planning. What traffic it
displays depends not only on the
hardware (a complete traffic picture
requires both an ADS-B In receiver
and an ADS-B Out transponder) but
on how the pilot has configured the
app. Each of them will have selected
different filters of traffic and weather
that are layered over the base map.
In some cases, the pilot's app
will not be compatible with the
desired hardware, so the shop
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News August 2016
