What talks to what?

The MLB/MLX series of equipment does not share the same software as the NavWorx ADS600-B. I've been told that the ADS600-B will not work with the IFD series, so that would suggest to me that at least the weather interface is different in some way (i.e. not a standard output). But I am not privy to the technical details.

My understanding is that the ADS600-B was as "standard" as NavWorx could make it, which suggests that the MLB/MLX output is not as standard in some way.

In any case, I don't know if Avidyne (or NavWorx, or anybody) could make consistent claims as to their interface with third-party equipment at this point in the game.  It seems that defining the interface with a CDI or HSI is much more cut-and-dried than an ADS-B datastream.

I know that NavWorx tries to keep a list of compatible displays, and what the capabilities are of each (even harder since they started in the Experimental arena and variation there is huge), but it's a losing battle as manufacturers are always rolling out a new software version.

I think the best information ends up coming from experienced avionics shops in the field rather than from the laboratories of the equipment manufacturers, who always seem to have out-of-date versions of their competitor's products for experimentation.

The airlines, as a group, have the clout to impose such standards on the equipment manufacturers that supply them.  These are known as ARINC standards, and this is where "ARINC 429" data comes from.

The downside is that with rigid standards comes lack of innovation. That may be why the airlines still do not have WAAS GPS receivers in their planes, and almost none of the equipment manufacturers makes a WAAS GPS for air transport use.  (They have just started development work recently because of the ADS-B mandate.)

Even with such rigid standards, there are still cases where one vendor's box does not talk to another vendor's box, and all pieces of a system need to come from one vendor if the operator wants every optional feature to work.

David

WAAS is now an option on 737 and 777

As I understand it, there is only one brand of equipment that is WAAS certified, and it is not one of the big players.  Airlines (as fleet operators) tend to be locked in to one brand of equipment in the interest of standardization of spare parts and maintenance practices.

So even though it is an option, almost none of the airliners flying today have it.

David