Wishlist for the next IFD software release

Fuel burn message - what a great idea.  It really is about fuel burn and not time.  I fly a T210 that burns 35 gph on take off and 14 in cruise.  That kind of throws the timer off.

I have three user-defined timers that I created to be recurring reminder prompts for checking my heading indicator, for checking fuel and for checking O2 saturation. Unless I'm missing something, acknowledging the timer-expired alert only dismisses the alert; it does not reset the timer. To reset the timer, I have to go to the Utilities page and press the yellow overdue message. It would be nice to have the timer reset upon acknowledging the alert. If there is concern about inadvertently resetting a timer, then perhaps programming the alert ack to prompt a "Reset Timer?" button.

Thanks, David. I am aware of the built-in fuel timer, but (1) I believe 30 minutes is its shortest duration, whereas I like the reminder every 15 minutes; and (2) I believe marrying that reset capability to the broader versatility of the user-defined timers provides greater utility and makes more sense.

Here's one I haven't seen yet. Apologies if missed.

Engine out Glide Range at optimum airspeed.

Data block would use GPS AGL, pilot entered Glide Range at Vbg.

It could also display Vbg (stored from prior pilot entry) at max gross.

It would continuously multiply current GPS AGL by Glide Range.

In the case of FLAME OUT, trim for Vbg(displayed on data block) run restart checklist. Look at data block for current solution, then punch up nearest for options.

Would mitigate helmet fire to some extent, and would be a safety enhancer.

Edited by ddgates - 07 Jul 2016 at 1:35pm

For Engine out guidance to the best runway at the best (not necessarily closest) airport, I use Xavion.  It runs on an iPad in my center console on every flight. 

The engine out guidance works very well, nothing else I've seen comes close.  Xavion is running the X-Plane flight simulator in the background all the time to determine which airports you can reach.  If you provide Xavion with ADS-B IN information, it will select runways with consideration for winds aloft and at each airport.

To calibrate the simulations you have to do a one-time flight to altitude and fly a set of speeds that Xavion calculates based on the climb and cruise data you enter.  You fly both best glide and worse/faster glide speeds in both clean and dirty configurations, and enter the observed vertical speeds for each configuration. 

Xavion has you fly a faster glide than best glide in nearly all engine-out approaches, to give you the ability to manage your energy reserve.  The hoop guidance is intuitive, and the energy meter is both helpful and reassuring.  With an ADS-B receiver Xavion will know the wind, so it will line you up at 400 AGL for the best runway.  It knows if you are flying a retractable and adds an appropriate margin for extending the gear.

Xavion tracks and logs every takeoff and landing you do, and on an engine-out approach it sets you up to touch down half the predicted landing distance short of the runway midpoint.

If I have no airfield in range, that's good to know too, so no time is wasted searching for a runway or trying to stretch a glide.

No financial interest, just a great product at a great price, one that will be very hard for Avidyne to match.

On the "Info" tab for a waypoint/navaid/intersection, could we have the 'Bearing and distance to' added in the 'General' section?
Handy for when you ask for a direct, and ATC come back with 'what would be your track to there?"
(as seen on a GNS480!)

I didn't take time to read through all 7 pages, and maybe what I'm wanting is already there.

Well.....  I sure don't "think" I press in on the knob.  :)

I'm guessing Bob has an IFD440, which has different functionality to the 540 when 'dialling-in' a new frequency.
Rotating the Tuning Knob on the 440, produces the same result as pressing the "FREQ" key on the 540.
ie the Frequency List window appears.

I have a 540 but FWIW, I sure don't like this functionality in the 440.

Thomas

Edited by DH82FLYER - 21 Jul 2016 at 6:57am

You guys have it.  The unit is a 440 and maybe I'm not the only one wishing it was a bit different.

Just looked and didn't see it in the database so I just added it.

Push and hold the FMS (or MAP) key, it will toggle between the split view and full screen view of the NRST page, and other pages.

We're all discovering cool new things with these units, every day!

Works great, Orest! Even in the sim on my iPad. Thanks for the tip.

chflyer wrote: My VFR app (a Europe alternative to Foreflight, etc) has all these VRPs but that doesn't help when programming the IFD flight plan route.

I've been in contact with the supplier of the app I use, and they have received the api info from Avidyne to allow integration. But it is in the form of libraries, not native data descriptions, and as such is not easily integrated into a multiplatform product (my app runs on Android, Windows, iOS, and MacOS). Given the low Avidyne installed base in Europe (still), they don't (yet) perceive the benefit to be worth the effort. After all, even in the US Avidyne places Android support lower on the priority list than iOS. So I'm not holding my breath waiting for an interface for their app with the IFD100 or IFD540 via wifi.

Edited by chflyer - 02 Aug 2016 at 7:42am

+1 million for both of these.

 ( : > )

Not sure if this has been requested already. 

oskrypuch wrote: Ibraham wrote: .... On the MAP page, Right lower corner concentric knob, have the large one control the Zoom, and the small one scroll the Right side Data blocks up and down.  That is actually a great suggestion. * Orest

+1

Could we have a "VOR Check Log" function added please? Select the function, pre-populated date and VOR, maybe even the difference in bearing received with the GPS (yes, I know using GPS isn't in the FAR, but we can verify by looking out of the window ;-) Even better if it automatically prompts every N < 30 days (or off altogether if your regulatory authority doesn't require it). Save the last X results, and make the results viewable on the unit in the event of a ramp check.

Ben

oskrypuch wrote: Ibraham wrote: .... On the MAP page, Right lower corner concentric knob, have the large one control the Zoom, and the small one scroll the Right side Data blocks up and down. That is actually a great suggestion.

Another "+1" for this knob scrolling scheme.  One thing I have noticed is that I often end up with half a data block visible either at the top or bottom of the screen.  I suggest that when scrolling up with the knob, each "click" lines up a data slot at the top of the screen, but when scrolling down with the knob, each "click" lines up a data slot at the bottom of the screen.

In other words:
If I'm scrolling down show me the next whole data block with one click.
If I'm scrolling up show me the next whole data block with one click.

David Bunin

oskrypuch wrote: Ibraham wrote: .... On the MAP page, Right lower corner concentric knob, have the large one control the Zoom, and the small one scroll the Right side Data blocks up and down.  That is actually a great suggestion. * Orest

Concur!  Excellent suggestion.

Are you using the traffic thumbnail data block?

I sometimes filter down the NAV data one step, which makes the "world" black and tends to make everything else easier to see on the screen.

I think the traffic icon color has to be either cyan or white to comply with the standards.  I'm not sure how much of that is at Avidyne's discretion.

David

I inverted my Flightplan to fly back the same course.

Everything works fine, but the ETO was confusing, perhaps +2 hours.

Is this a known problem?