New 540 --July 2014 Data

Very disquieting my new 540 didn't come with updated Nav/Chart data.

Yep.  I got July data on mine, too, which I received in November.  

Edited by pburger - 21 Jan 2015 at 1:15pm

pburger wrote: Yep.  I got July data on mine, too, which I received in November.   I kind of expected a current database, sort of like a full tank of gas.  Oh well... I have a subscription for NAVDATA now, but my terrain, obstacles and charts will be forever stuck at July 2014.  (or until I pony up some cash to refresh them)

Would love to use the full gas tank with a new car delivery analogy but it's not feasible at this point.  Imagine the gas tank leaks out every 14 days.   We elected to reduce the significant burden on the factory by not having them load/reload new data every 14 days.  It's often more than 14 days between initial assembly and installation/turn on in the customer airplane so we used the KISS concept on this issue.

AviJake wrote: Would love to use the full gas tank with a new car delivery analogy but it's not feasible at this point.  Imagine the gas tank leaks out every 14 days.   We elected to reduce the significant burden on the factory by not having them load/reload new data every 14 days.  It's often more than 14 days between initial assembly and installation/turn on in the customer airplane so we used the KISS concept on this issue.

With out wanting to call Jepp would anyone know what the chart Sub is?

I think there is a misunderstanding here.

A part of the 540 install is NAVDATA update (and a FOB is provided for same).

I don't recall, however, if charts were updated at the same time.

You can also get just the NavData update for about the same price as Garmin. Of course you do not get charts,obstacles or terrain. Flying in FL don't worry too much about terrain or obstacles. Have ForeFlight for charts that I can see better on the iPad mini than the 540. I downloaded the current NavData to USB drive and took it with me for aircraft pickup. Took about 2 minutes to update.

IFR bundle was 995.00. - G530 balance

My 540 came in today, I'm pretty much stunned that I get July 2014 databases with a new unit. like KIM says, even with Garmin you get a certificate ! But since my unit doesn't even know where it's at "no GPS position" I guess databases are the least of my worries. Backing up to a 530w is looking better. We pulled a 530 out.

I think the wording here could be a bit more differentiated.

It is absolutely understandable that Avidyne has no idea when a given unit will be released for service following installation and as such the database in shipped units can really be anything since it will almost always be out of date by installation time. One month or six months out of date doesn't really make any difference.

On the other hand, every purchaser has the right to expect that when they take delivery of their aircraft with a newly installed unit (IFD540), the installation will be legal for takeoff into IFR including all associated databases.

This can be achieved in a variety of ways, and the onus is on Avidyne and the install shop together to arrange something workable. Logically, the simplest would be for the avionics shop to have a code or one-time Jepp login from Avidyne for each box that allows download of the current db from Jepp onto a usb fob which would then be loaded into the IFD540 along with maintenance setup and/or post-install testing. But perhaps Jepp won't buy into this.

We're working on it. Logistics are much trickier than you would imagine. For right or wrong, I had prioritized other issues and process improvements but folks keep hammering on this one so we're elevating its priority in response.

 

In the interests of demonstrating the ease and utility of database updates (and building a customer base) Jepp should agree to the one time database update (via certificate, FOB, whatever).

Meanwhile, having gone through this 11 years ago with my CNX 80, I think it's fine to launch into IMC with a never before used GPS/NAV/COM, just don't count on using it for navigation unless it is as a VOR.

Very few people have mastered the techniques necessary to use one of these boxes in actual IMC as the sole Nav source without having done so previously.

Consider it a post maintenance test flight. You don't know how the box is going to perform because it has not yet been tested.

My first flight was safe because I just went VOR to VOR back to home base (in IMC) and shot a VOR approach. I could have done the entire flight with Nav 2. Using the VOR component of the CNX 80 was super easy.

I think the best time to learn a new box is in VFR conditions.

AviJake wrote: Still working on this. It's a priority for us.

Thank you !

With out wanting to call Jepp would anyone know what the chart Sub is?

I suggest email to captain@jeppesen.com instead of calling, to be sure you get accurate info.  You cannot order the bundles online at present.  With phone calls you never know if you have reached someone who knows about the Avidyne bundles.

See
http://forums.avidyne.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=522&PID=5762&title=jeppesen-only-source-of-navdata#5762

Bad1996 wrote: AviJake wrote: <span style="line-height: 1.4;">We're working on it. Logistics are much trickier than you would imagine. For right or wrong, I had prioritized other issues and process improvements but folks keep hammering on this one so we're elevating its priority in response.</span><p ="Mso">  <o:p></o:p> Update ?

No, not yet.  But I do have a face-to-face meeting with the power players at Jepp at Sun-n-Fun and this topic is on the agenda if not resolved prior to that.

There is a SafeTaxi equivalent by Avidyne, and it is free! The airport chart page (like most of the charts) is georeferenced (MAP|CHART), and pops up automatically when you land (as long as you have any approach chart selected) or you can manually select it. Because this is accomplished with Jepp charts, it works world-wide, wherever you have a subscription of course.

Edited by oskrypuch - 08 Apr 2015 at 9:03pm

Vince,

AviJake wrote: No, not yet.  But I do have a face-to-face meeting with the power players at Jepp at Sun-n-Fun and this topic is on the agenda if not resolved prior to that.

Any update?

BUMP

It looks like new owners get a 60 day trial now: