IFD540 Certification Status

Any updates? How are things progressing?

For those of us who were told that our units were in "production month <x>", does the change that you guys made in how you did the pilot program (with the experimental guys) affect our deliveries at all?  I wasn't sure if you had started producing units pending the FAA approval, or if you want to have that cert in hand before you ramp production.

Are all of the pre cert installs dual 540 installations? We just did our single install with the temporary 530W and our COM 2, a KX-155, is killing the GPS sat reception.

Joe - I'm not aware of KX-155's taking out GPS satellite lock.  Sounds like Geoffrey has some knowledge on that front - I wonder if anybody else has heard of such behavior.

Mike K - reference your 5 May question - we're waiting until cert is assured before we ramp production.   We have all the material in stock and have pre-assembled a number of components but the final assembly will wait until all uncertainty is removed.

Okay, understood, thanks.  That's very helpful for planning.

Got another month and 10 days yet...

(21 May 2014 Status Update):

Exciting timeline.  It's definitely down to the wire.

Great thread!  Thanks for sharing, I really enjoyed reading it and seeing all the photos.  I wish I had space in the panel for dual 540s, but I do have another MFD, so that's okay.

Hi all!

Steve-
Can I take you away from Cert issues for a moment...? I would like to understand what to expect to see on my IFD540 screen when executing holds. More specifically, what role, if any, will it play in assessing the Holding Pattern entry method (direct, parallel, or teardrop); what wind correction features will happen;and will the actual pattern itself display accurately (including wind corrective turns)? Also, has Avidyne tossed their "simplicity elixir" into the unit to produce some magically simple method of setting up unpublished holds?

Thanx, John

(30 May 2014 Status Update):

Thank you for your promptness and reality of the certification status. I'm sure this has been quite the task.
Waiting patiently.

Gring is right.

You are right about a problematic prerelease (I'm 3 years into this).

It seems to me it is worth millions to team G if certification could be delayed beyond EAA Oshkosh 2014.  Is it possible there are more than 2 players at this table?  It might not be surprising if some other thing came up between now and then.

AviJake wrote: No. It'll work out fine. We'll be shipping prior to Oshkosh.

I could go back, way back, in this thread and read so many similar predictions...

Oh, Steve, oh how we want to believe.  

The cynic would ask Oshkosh 2014? <g>

Garmin announced the WAAS upgrade for the 430/530 in 2000. For 2002. Then 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and finally shipped in 2007. 4-5 years delay...depending which initial statement you count.

Ditto on all counts!

Do you have a preorder with month 1 delivery position?

I don't think you could pick up a unit.  The agreement was that they wouldn't be sent to you but to your selected Avidyne dealer.

Avionics shops charge less for installation of equipment that they sold because they make a profit on the sale.  Avidyne is kicking back some money to the dealer to make up for the lost profit.  Otherwise the dealers wouldn't be real interested in installing our IFDs or would charge a higher price to do it.

I realize you were half-kidding.  It would be seriously cool if people could walk away from the Avidyne booth with a box that said IFD 540 in big letters.  On the other hand, I don't know that I would want to be carrying a box that said "$10,000 GPS" in big letters around Oshkosh.

I absolutely agree Oshkosh is an amazingly low-risk place.  America at it's finest.  But think of it a different way:  Could you really enjoy Oshkosh carrying around a box worth about $17K? (Not your cost; what it would cost to replace.)   What if you got distracted and left it somewhere?  Dropped it?  It got hit by a tow vehicle, or someone (non-aviator) broke in to your car at the dorm and took it...?

Me?  Don't want to do that.  Don't want to THINK about that while I'm at Oshkosh.  I want to be soaking up everything else.  Please, just ship it!  (But soon, mind you...)

Also - as to the FAA scheduling kerfluffle: Steve was forthright from the beginning with respect to the FAA component of the schedule, and his certification criteria published in this forum were clearly (and described as) the things within Avidyne's control.  Furthermore, the material presented in this forum would indicate that Avidyne has been very proactive in managing those risks outside of their control.

It would be good if our Federal Goverment could *OPENLY* be compelled (or incentivized) to make commitments for which they are accountable; unfortunately, they cannot, beyond the Polls, and in this particular circumstance Avidyne (and those of use who have committed to a purchase) must bear the burden.  To place blame on Avidyne (or even the stuckees at the FAA) is misguided, and demonstrates ignorance of the regulatory and legislative processes in the US.  If Avidyne is to be faulted, is it for being so open with us?  Is that a fault?

Just saying...

Jon

I agree.

Jake has kept me in the game.

If the updates were just the mindlesss notices "New (Delayed) Release Date", I would have bailed some time ago.

But that said, all patience has limits...

brou0040 wrote: To Avijake's credit, being open with us is the only reason I haven't pulled my deposit, I have seen zero updates outside of this forum for the money I put down years ago.