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AviJake View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Avidyne SynVis - General
    Posted: 17 Dec 2010 at 12:48pm
A few weeks ago, after seeing some pictures posted on Twitter of the Avidyne SynVis system,  Brian T asked about obstacles within 5nm of the airfield and whether they would be displayed or suppressed.

(His exact post was:  "I asked because the current TAWS inhibits obstacle warning within 5 miles of an airport. I see that area as the most vulnerable for an obstacle collision. How will the Avidyne Syn Vis address this.")

I'm pleased to be able to report that we do NOT inhibit or suppress obstacles from the SynVis scene just because they are within 5nm of a airfield.  

We will have some suppression when the system recognizes you are in the terminal area of an airfield and the obstacle is NOT a threat.  But, if the obstacle becomes a true threat to your airplane, no matter how close you are to an airfield, there is no intentional suppression from display or alerting.
Steve Jacobson
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Mar 2011 at 8:28am
We've been starting to fly a few non-Avidyne pilots in a R9/Syn Vis equipped aircraft to get some more feedback.  Here's the first COPA post on that topic:

http://www.cirruspilots.org/forums/p/123795/567255.aspx#567255

We'll start to post some current flight images shortly (busy at Sun-n-Fun this week).
Steve Jacobson
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 May 2011 at 5:04pm
Here is a link to a set of pictures from 20 May 2011 near Asheville NC flying the Avidyne SynVis in the company SR22.

https://picasaweb.google.com/MassJakes/20May2011AvidyneSynVisFlightTesting?feat=directlink



Edited by AviJake - 21 May 2011 at 5:06pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jun 2011 at 1:11pm
Here is a link to a pdf document that is my draft Avidyne SynVis pilot guide insert.  I have a DRAFT watermark in it because the FAA hasn't signed off on it yet but this does represent exactly what we intend to certify.

Would love to hear your thoughts or feedback.

http://www.avidyne.com/downloads/media/SynVis-PG-Snippet.pdf


Steve Jacobson
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MASYC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Oct 2011 at 8:27pm
Ok guys, it has been months.....
I think all of us are wondering what is happening with this featue and the  R9.3 release of the software.
    We were thinking we would hear something at M9 and then in early fall.....
 
At least, has the paperwork been submitted to the FAA? Or is it still in your hands.  When will this critical milestone be reached?
 
Thanks, Russ
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MASYC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Oct 2011 at 8:30pm
A comment on the document:
It very clearly states that the current TAWS is to be disabled as the Avydyne solution replaces all the features. (I guess).
 
While maybe not the most important, the feature I enjoy the most and use on EVERY flight is the voice callout at 500 feet above ground level.  This tells me that I should be established on short final.  I would hope that this feature is inscluded in the first release so I am not going backwards in features by loading my R9 and taking advantage of SynVis.
 
thanks Russ
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FlyingLester Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Mar 2012 at 9:02am
Russ,

We hear you loud and clear about the 500 ft callouts.  We think we have a solution that is acceptable to the FAA that allows both Avidyne Synthetic Vision and the Honeywell EGPWS to be functional in parallel.  However, until we get FAA buy-in, we don't want to release all the details.

We've not submitted our R9.3 paperwork to the FAA yet.  We were hoping to have it submitted this spring, but that is looking increasingly unlikely.  R9.3 is the top certification priority at Avidyne and we are working hard to get it complete as soon as possible.  

-Ted
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 2012 at 11:23am
Avidyne SynVis Progress  Update (21 April 2012).

We have not submitted our paperwork to the FAA yet for certification. We think we're still a few months away from that milestone.    We can assure all interested parties that there is no higher priority within Avidyne Engineering than to get 9.3 certified and shipping.  To be explicit, 9.3 (i.e. SynVis), is our #1 project priority and that hasn't wavered.

The SynVis part of 9.3 is done and has been done for months.  Said differently, we haven't had to make any changes to that code in a long time.  Mike Keirnan and I have done all our company flight testing and we've both declared it done from that sense.  It's really, really good.

As you know, SynVis is part of Rel 9.3 and the rest of 9.3 is slogging its way through the cert process.  This is not meant to say there are tons of other features in 9.3 above/beyond SynVis.  There are some nice features but SynVis itself affected more than 60% of all the code in the entire system (there are about 240,000 lines of code in R9).  That is all Avidyne work. 

Remember that DO-178B (the certification process standard that we must follow to be blessed by the FAA) is a requirements-based development process.  This means that every single function and every single line of code in the system needs to be fully described by a set of written requirements, then linked (or "traced") to the code and have accompanying tests and test code written to fully test every conceivable path the code could take and that the code actually embodies the governing requirements.  There are a bunch of other, more detailed steps embedded in those tasks but that's probably too far in the weeds to cover here.  That translates to an enormous amount of work.   We had to make a few fundamental changes under the hood to guarantee the expected and desired performance on the graphics processor and the operating system that we didn't expect going into the SynVis efforts.  We also didn't realize that SynVis would end up touching so much of the pre-existing code.  Since we were in there, we made other code enhancements and efficiencies that will ensure the R9 code body is easier to maintain and grow in the future.  Note that we are done with all "under the hood changes".  In fact, we've been done with the code changes for months.  We're "just" slogging our way through all the cert grinding efforts.  It's not glamorous stuff but 9.3 is, and has been, making steady progress toward the finish line.  

The FAA is always a variable that can sometimes be very difficult to predict, but in the case of our SynVis efforts, we are not currently worried about them putting any kind of meaningful spoke in our wheels as we head for the 9.3 finish line.  The FAA has however, chosen this project to enforce a whole new set of processes and reviews - it's not clear what, if any, schedule impact that might have. 

One more side note - the new R9-based product line, like the IFD540 is what we call "R9.4".  You can infer three things from that statement:

        1. 9.4 is serial behind 9.3, not in front;
        2. 9.4 requires 9.3 to be done and certified so by definition, it can't switch pole positions;
        3. Since 9.4 is the same code base as 9.3, that means any improvements or features that do show up in 9.4/IFD540, will naturally be part of or migrate into R9 as you know it.
Steve Jacobson
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Harvey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 May 2012 at 3:25pm
Could you please outline what 9.4 improvements will mean for Platinum DFC100 systems?  Thanks.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 May 2012 at 4:03pm
Hi Harvey,

There are some features that I won't discuss here because it would give away some elements of IFD540 we're not willing to disclose yet but for starters, here are a few features that are baseline to the IFD540 that would come over to the R9 system after the initial release of the IFD540:

1. TSO'd TAWS-B;
2. Integration with the "Avi Stack" (e.g. the Avidyne AMX240 Audio Panel and the Avidyne AXP340 ADS-B Transponder);
3. Support for XM weather data;
4. Support for XM and Sirius Music channel selection and control;
5. Improved Info Pages;
6. MLX Two-way international datalink (this might be a "dot release" after initial one);
7. Improved Map + page datablocks;
8. Improved User Waypoint functionality.

Do you have any specific "wish list" items in mind?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Harvey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 May 2012 at 10:11pm
I'm particularly interested in SMS text messaging.  It seems such a waste to have the QWERTY keyboard and no functional communication link in flight.  Thanks.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 May 2012 at 8:11am
Got it.  The SMS text messaging will come along as part of the MLX integration (#6 above).
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BoilerUP Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jun 2012 at 3:46pm
When we had R9 installed in our SR22 in Jan/Feb 2010, we were told SynVis would be available "by the end of the year". 

Here we are over 2 years later, and by Avidyne's own admissions it is going to be sometime into Q3'12 before 9.3 is submitted to the FAA.  How long might we expect from paperwork delivery until it starts being shipped to customers?

I mean its only 1.5 years overdue now, what's another 6 months wait.....
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jun 2012 at 7:15pm
It is hard to say.   We've had durations from paperwork submission-to-certification/approval take as short as 1 week and as long as 4+ months.  We will begin shipping within 24 hours of FAA approval.

The SynVis release has clearly taken longer than we had anticipated.  We have everyone in the company who can work on the release, working on it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jseminerio Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jun 2012 at 12:48am
Steve can you larify TSO'd TAWS-B. what will be required for this o work and briefly how ones Avidyne define this feature?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jun 2012 at 9:52am
Reference your questions about TAWS-B, I might need more background.

Are you asking what "TSO'd TAWS-B" is and are you asking about in the context of a pre-existing TAWS system on a R9 equipped aircraft or in the context of the Avidyne TAWS-B system that will be an option in the IFD540?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jseminerio Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jun 2012 at 11:22pm
Steve I'm curious what TAWS capabilities R9 will have with the 9.4 SynVis release for those of us with the Honeywell system and also those who don't have a Honeywell TAWS-B?

Edited by jseminerio - 29 Jun 2012 at 11:23pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jun 2012 at 9:09am
Thanks for the clarification, now I understand.

Our SynVis release is what we're calling Release 9.3.   Release 9.4 is what we're designating as the release that will follow that and include the IFD540 product.

With respect to the existing installations of the Honeywell KGP560 EGPWS units (aka "Honeywell TAWS-B"), our design does not allow the simultaneous use of the external Honeywell system AND the Avidyne SynVis.  This is principally driven by our interpretation of the existing FAA guidance with respect to certifying Synthetic Vision.    The particular clauses in that guidance that drives this states that the SynVis alerting functions can not, in anyway, conflict with the external unit alerting.  In other words, it is prohibited to have the Honeywell unit declare in imminent ground collision but the SynVis systen not to make that same alert.  More importantly, even if the two systems declare a terrain alert, they must start and finish as precisely the same time to avoid any conflicting information.   The Honeywell unit uses proprietary algorithms and thus we can not ensure every alert starts/stops at exactly the same time.  Therefore, the design is such that if a Honeywell unit is installed and operating, SynVis is disabled.

It is unfortunate but we don't know of any other way.  We looked at every creative way we could think of to allow both systems to function simultaneously but could not find one.  That leaves the owner/operator with several options:

1.  Remove and sell the Honeywell unit;
2.  Leave the Honeywell unit in the airplane but disable it to allow SynVis functionality to be present;
3.  Leave the Honeywell unit in the airplane and functional and not use the Avidyne SynVis functionality part of Release 9.3;
4.  Do not upgrade to Release 9.3.

Obviously, those folks who do not currently have a functional Honeywell unit installed in their airplane are unaffected by this.

I've flown the Avidyne SynVis system enough now to know it's a really great system.  It looks terrific and it's got great performance to match.  I'm very confident everyone will really enjoy and appreciate the SynVis system when it comes out.

One important note, SynVis is NOT a certified TAWS-B system.   A certified TAWS-B system has addtional functionality above/beyond what is available in a Synthetic Vision system.  For example, SynVis does include Forward Looking  Terrain Alerting (FLTA).   So does TAWS-B.  The Avidyne FLTA function in SynVis is exactly compliant with the TAWS-B FLTA function.  In fact, the FLTA algorithm in SynVis is exactly the same algorithm and code that we're using in our certified TAWS-B system that is part of the IFD540.   A certified TAW-B system then adds additional functions that are not part of SynVis.  These include things like Excessive Sink Rate on initial climbout or go-around and Premature Descent Alerts (PDA) on instrument approaches.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jul 2012 at 1:35pm
In the hopes of reducing (understandable) confusion in the customer community, R9.3 and SynVis is in the certification phase while R9.4 and the accompanying product (IFD540) is in the development phase.

These are two different teams and skill sets of folks involved with each with very little cross-over.

R9.3 remains our top certification priority (and is necessary for R9.4) while R9.4 remains our top development priority.

The wording differences may seem subtle but the reality is not.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote aoffen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Sep 2012 at 7:35pm
Any news on the certification process? 
Regards
Andrew


Edited by aoffen - 13 Sep 2012 at 7:35pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Sep 2012 at 7:38pm
No.  We are trying to schedule the FAA to come in and do their flight test.  They have a lot of people who want to participate and finding an open set of days is proving to be a real challenge.   That will be the next milestone to report on when the FAA flight testing is complete.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote aoffen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Sep 2012 at 7:40pm
Thanks for the prompt reply. Does all the paperwork have to wait for the flight test before submission, or is that already in the system?
Rgds
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Sep 2012 at 7:49pm
All the paperwork will wait until that FAA flying is complete. 

To be clear, it's a rolling submission of paperwork.   All that we're wiling to submit prior to this FAA flying is in but we will hold off on the rest until FAA flying is complete.  We just don't know what, if any, changes may come from their evaluation.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote aoffen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Sep 2012 at 7:51pm
Must be a frustrating process. Looking forward to the end result. Its been a long time coming.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Oct 2012 at 11:34am
(SynVis Progress Update - 3 Oct 2012) 
 
We did have a successful flight with the FAA yesterday in the SynVis equipped cert aircraft.  This flight was for two of the local FAA ACO reps (1 pilot and 1 flight test engineer).  They are the project leads on behalf of the FAA and they had two purposes for the flight:   Familiarization flight to understand Avidyne SynVis; and determine if the system was ready for the wider FAA evaluation which they call the MPSUE.   A MPSUE stands for Multiple Person System Usability Evaluation and is essentially the FAA test that uses a "statistically significant" sample of FAA cert authorities and looks at the overall system integration, human factors issues, overall assessments of system usability and often compliance with various governing guidance.
 
The good news is that the FAA reps were pleased with the system and declared it ready for the fuller evaluation.
 
The bad news is that they believe the earliest they can accomplish the broader review is the last week of November (week of 26 November) due to participant availability and even that has some risk of slipping a week or so.
 
Avidyne does expect to have all of our TSO work completed and submitted prior to the MPSUE and we are trying to structure the complete STC/TSO submission package to be done by then so that the MPSUE is actually the last milestone in the certification process.   This will be an atypical approach and the first time we've tried that. It is at some risk but we're trying to get this system fielded as soon as feasible.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Oct 2012 at 8:50pm
SynVis Progress Update (14 Oct 2012)

The FAA has confirmed the scheduling of the MPSUE.  The last of the FAA pilots has confirmed their schedule for the week of 26 Nov so baring any weather or aircraft mx issues, we *should* be through that evaluation by the last day of November.

We're extremely anxious to get this behind us and we're completely ready and in "wait mode" for the next month.  In the meantime, our development team has moved on to the IFD540 development and will only come back to 9.3 in the event there is a MPSUE-driven change.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Nov 2012 at 8:49am
SynVis Progress Update (8 Nov 2012)
 
FAA still planning on flying SynVis.  They have broken out their MPSUE evaluations into 2 scheduling blocks due to constraints on their end.  We fly the first half of the FAA  evaluators on 14 and 15 Nov and then the 2nd half on 27 and 28 Nov.
 
Will post results of those evaluations here.   As noted above, the entire Avidyne development team has moved over to IFD540 while we wait for the FAA evaluations to be held.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote aoffen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Nov 2012 at 10:00am
Hi. Waiting with baited breathe for news of how the first round of testing went. Much appreciate if you can give us an update when available.
Cheers
Andrew
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Nov 2012 at 3:08pm
(SynVis Progress Update - 14 Nov 2012) - The first half of the FAA "MPSUE" evaluation has begun.  We flew a 2.0 hour sortie today that was uneventful. (We want all these sorties to be "uneventful" and result in no findings that drive a change.)

We have two more flights scheduled for Thurs, 15 Nov and then a two-week gap until 28 Nov for the rest of the FAA pilots.  Will post updates when appropriate.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Nov 2012 at 8:11pm
(SynVis Progress Update - 15 Nov 2012) - We hit a snag today during FAA MPSUE flying.   We had planned two sorties with the FAA today - two different evaluation pilots.  The first flight went off without a hitch but then after briefing the 2nd flight and even taxiing out for that flight, we had to call it off for the day when a landing jet experienced some type of mishap on landing roll and became disabled at the intersection of the two runways at Hanscom, thereby shutting down the airfield for all takeoff and landing operations for approximately 4 hours.  The afternoon FAA pilot only had today as a window of opportunity until mid Dec and the FAA feels strongly that he must participate in the evaluation.  Therefore, we can't conclude the MPSUE flying now until 13 December at the earliest.

It is exceedingly frustrating but we will press ahead with the next wave of FAA flying on the 28th of November and then wait until the hoped for last flight occurs on 12 December. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote aoffen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Dec 2012 at 5:02pm
How did the rest of the synvis flights go? Any major hiccups other than the cancelled and delayed test flight?
Cheers
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Dec 2012 at 7:46pm
Andrew,

Whoops.  Thanks for the pimp - I forgot to post an update.....

The flights we pulled off last week went great.   We were battling the weather and had to push back a few days.  That meant we lost one of the FAA pilots due to availability but the ones we did fly loved the system and to our knowledge, had zero findings.    The FAA is keeping all their pilots sequestered until the last one has a chance to fly.  By that I mean, they can not share comments and opinions amongst themselves in order to not bias anyone until all have had a chance to fly but I will say that their individual debriefs to us are very encouraging.  I don't want to spike the ball outside the endzone (apologies to all non-US football fans) but so far, so very good.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ragate Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Dec 2012 at 10:26am
Did the last flight with the FAA happen on the 13th, and any updates?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Dec 2012 at 1:36pm
(SynVis Progress Update - 17 Dec 2012) -

The ordeal continues.   On the good news front, we did manage to fly all of the rest of the FAA pilots last week.   The weather did force delays and extra sorties but all flights were eventually completed.

The FAA has not indicated to us that they know of any areas that have to change.  Because of the nature of their own self-sequestering of the 4 evaluation pilots, they are just now this week meeting by phone to discuss amongst themselves and come up with a single FAA position.

On the not-as-great news front, they told us that between the geographic separation of their eval pilots and their end of the year vacations, they do not expect to provide a report and their official position on SynVis until the week of 14 January.

We surely hope we don't have to wait that long to get the report and we are trying our best to accelerate their schedule.   That leaves us in the undesirable position of being frozen until we get the report.  The cost in terms of schedule and impact on other programs of any changes at this stage in the cert process is so high, we expressly don't want to assume this has FAA blessing and then take it the rest of the way across the cert finish line only to find out they have some mandated change and we have to do it again.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jan 2013 at 9:08am
(SynVis Progress Update - 9 Jan 2013) -

Just got off the phone with the FAA.  They are not ready to give us their MPSUE comments on our SynVis nor will they be by the week of 14 Jan.

They are apparently still having internal debates on some of the "new and novel" features of SynVis and are not ready to provide us the unified set of feedback/comments/findings/etc.

The uncertainty of any potential changes still has us frozen on efforts to complete the release.  Will post an update as soon as we receive the FAA feedback.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jan 2013 at 3:54pm
(SynVis Progress Update - 22 Jan 2013) -

Interesting but disappointing news today from the FAA.  They delivered their MPSUE findings to us and overall had 28 itemized issues with the "new and novel" features of the SynVis.

It is not quite as bad as it may sound in that most will be addressed through specific descriptions and notes in the associated Pilot Guide and AFMS update but 7 or 8 of the issues will drive a code change.  The issues that require a change are all on the adjustable field of view feature that SynVis has.

Avidyne is now trying to determine our best course of action to deal with those 7 or 8 required changes.  Options range from removing the feature altogether to engineering solutions for each of the specific gripes.  

So at this point, the process is:

1.  Avidyne determine our best course of action.
2.  Avidyne propose those changes to the FAA in writing to see if those proposed changes "scratch the itch" and adequately address their concerns.
3.  FAA reconvenes (I imagine through conference calls) the MPSUE team to come up with a collective position and then informs Avidyne.
4.  Avidyne makes the changes (but not until we have FAA buy-in that those changes are sufficient).
5  FAA re-evaluates (in a manner not yet decided - e.g. we send pictures, local FAA re-flys, etc) those issue areas.
6.  Once we have a positive indication from the FAA, we then move to take the software across the certification finish line.

One side note, while we had hoped that the FAA would not need to fly the TIA themselves, they have concluded that FAA flight involvement will be required.  That too adds schedule uncertainty to the program.

Will post update when proposed issue resolution has been mutually agreed upon.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote aoffen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Feb 2013 at 5:48pm
Have you reached any conclusions regarding the next step? Work through the issues the FAA have raised, or abandon the zoom feature for the moment? I can imagine the time pressure on development of the new IFD must be building. Any thoughts you can share?
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Andrew
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Feb 2013 at 8:01pm
No, we have not reached any conclusions.   Avidyne submitted our proposed changes in a written response on/about 23 Jan and we haven't heard anything back from the FAA yet.

We proposed keeping the adjustable field of view feature by making a few changes we think comply with the FAA direction.  We do hope/expect to hear from the FAA this week on those proposals.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Feb 2013 at 8:07pm
(SynVis Progress Update - 7 Feb 2013)

We finally heard some feedback from the FAA last night.   They have generally accepted in principal our proposed changes to the adjustable field of view feature to address their MPSUE concerns.  There is however a "but", actually two of them.

The first "but" is they are still having active and colorful internal debates on one finding area and our response and therefore have not provided a conditional ruling in any way so this is still open.

The second "but" is that 8 of the 28 findings are to be re-evaluated during TIA testing, leaving open the prospect for potentially more problems.  It is just too dynamic a situation right now to provide a high-confidence prediction on how it will play out.

In summary, 19 of the 28 findings are "Closed".  8 of the 28 items are to be re-evaluated during TIA and 1 of the 28 items is still in internal negotiation within the FAA.

We are going to proceed with making the actual changes to the software, doing so at some risk that further changes will be required as the FAA makes up their mind on that 28th finding.   This does mean that the feature remains and the operational impact on the pilot will be nearly invisible. 

We don't have a date from the FAA as to when they think they can decide on that 28th item nor have they supplied dates during which they can support TIA yet.

 

BTW, I asked about sequestration and the effects it may be having on the FAA now.  As you may recall, the current date for sequestration is 1 March.  The official FAA policy right now is 30 days prior to that, changes start happening so we’re already in that window.

As of 1 March, all non mission critical FAA employees are to be furloughed.

30 days prior, all non mission critical travel is cancelled and employees are encouraged to clear as much work off their to-do lists as feasible.

We surely don't want sequestration to come to pass but it seems like some impacts are already being realized.

Wish we knew more or had a highly deterministic outcome but we don't yet.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote aoffen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Feb 2013 at 9:34pm
What a nightmare!!!!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Feb 2013 at 9:45pm
I'm afraid this is "normal" and par for the course when trying to get complicated systems certified.   We, and all of our competitors go through this all the time.

There are never any shortage of challenges.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Feb 2013 at 11:39am
(SynVis Progress Update - 22 Feb 2013)

The FAA has settled (sort of) their internal struggle to have a unified position to the 28th issue from MPSUE.  They actually broke it into two issues, closed one and left the other for further evaluation during TIA.

With that, we know what further changes we will make to address the adjustable field-of-view findings and will make those in the next few days.   

That will also allow us to start the software test-for-credit task which will take a few weeks once started due to the size and number of changes made in Rel 9.3.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Mar 2013 at 6:53pm
(SynVis Progress Update - 5 March 2013)

We have completed the software changes on our end and have entered official Software Test-For-Credit (TFC).  It will take us several weeks to get through TFC and I'll make a new post when we have, or earlier if there is something interesting to report.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote aoffen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Mar 2013 at 9:22pm
Good to hear there is progress. There are 3 R9 aircraft heading off on a flying safari to South Australia on April 15th. What do you think our chances are of having Synvis for the trip?
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Andrew
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote aoffen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Mar 2013 at 6:19pm
Sounds like that's a NO then........
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Mar 2013 at 8:47pm
Sorry Andrew - missed the original question but no good news on the question.  We won't have cert in time for your April trip.  Sounds like a great trip, just wish our software was certified in time for it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote aoffen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Apr 2013 at 9:34pm
We leave in a few days. Last chance!!!!!!
Seriously, any news. How are things going?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Apr 2013 at 4:50pm
As expected, we won't have cert in time for your April trip but progress to the finish line continues.  We're in the middle of formal software test-for-credit for Release 9.3.  It's a massive undertaking and has a few weeks left to go.  So far, there have been no surprises or problems.    We started the testing in early March and the test metrics say we're about halfway through.

When that testing is done, we'll enter into FAA TIA testing (their final exam flight test) and when that's done, wrap up any loose ends with the paperwork and await cert.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Apr 2013 at 4:35pm
(SynVis Progress Update - 19 April 2013)

Not done yet but here's a metric/data point for reference.  As noted earlier, we are in official software test for credit.  There are a total of 842 tests that we have to run and pass.  As of this entry, we've successfully completed 623 of the 842 meaning we have 219 tests, or 26% still to go.

Some of those 219 tests are quickies and some are a lot more involved and time-consuming and I'm afraid I'm not smart enough to be able to project how many days of testing we still have.  I will say that the remaining 219 tests are no harder or longer than the previous 623 so you can make your own projections if curious.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 May 2013 at 9:42am
(SynVis Progress Update - 10 May 2013)

Data point update on SynVis test for credit progress....... 

Hit some tough tests recently (previous tests were a few years old and we have updated the test environment a lot since then so a lot of the tests need updating/rewriting).  No failures, just slow going.

As of Wed two days ago, we had completed 678 of the 849 tests meaning we have 21.1% still to go.
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