Avidyne Product Announcement

AVIDYNE EXTENDS ADS-B PRODUCT PORTFOLIO WITH ADDITION OF MLX200 & MLX210 978MHz TRANSCEIVERS

Avidyne now offers a full suite of 1090MHz and 978MHz ADS-B solutionsto meet the needs of general aviation aircraft owners flying Internationally, as well as for those flying above and below 18,000 feet in the U.S.

Avidyne Corporation, a leading provider of integrated avionics and safety systems for general aviation aircraft, announced they have expanded their ADS-B 978 Series of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) solutions to include the MLX200 and MLX210 transceivers. Both products are designed for Avidyne customers flying below 18,000 feet in Continental United States (CONUS) airspace who wish to meet the upcoming mandate for ADS-B OUT, and also to receive FIS-B weather and Traffic via ADS-B IN on their Avidyne displays.

“Avidyne has continued to expand our ADS-B product offerings and we are excited to bring the MLX200 and MLX210 to market,” said Dan Schwinn, Avidyne’s CEO.  “In addition to our new IFD440 and IFD540 customers, we have a huge installed base of EX500, EX600 and EX5000 MFD customers who can now use these products to comply with the ADS-B mandate and display FIS-B weather and traffic.”

The MLX200 provides 978MHz ADS-B IN and ADS-B OUT which can be displayed on Avidyne’s IFD540 and IFD440 GPS/NAV/COMs, and also on an Avidyne EX500, EX600 or EX5000 Multi-Function display (MFD).  The IFD540 and IFD440 provide a compliant GPS source needed for ADS-B. The MLX210 is the same as the MLX200 except it also has a compliant GPS sensor built it. It is designed for customers with an Avidyne EX500, EX600 or EX5000 MFD, but without a compatible or compliant GPS.

Avidyne previously announced their MLB100 ADSB-IN Receiver that is designed for IFD540 or IFD440 customers who want ADS-B IN, and they are equipping with an Avidyne AXP340 Mode S Transponder with 1090MHz ADS-B OUT. The MLB100 provides a great FIS-B weather and traffic solution for aircraft flying above 18,000 feet in the CONUS.  Release 10.1 software is required in the IFD540 and IFD440 in order for them to display ADS-B information.

About the ADS-B 978 Series

Avidyne’s ADS-B 978 Series includes three models of light weight 978MHz datalink systems for complying with and leveraging the benefits of ADS-B in the United States NextGen Airspace System. The MLB100 Receiver provides Flight Information System-Broadcast (FIS-B) weather information, including NEXRAD radar, METARs, TAFs, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, Special Use Airspace (SUA), and Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs). The MLB100 also receives traffic information directly from nearby 978MHz-equipped aircraft, and indirectly through the rebroadcast of 1090MHz-equipped aircraft via 978MHz ADS-R. Traffic information from aircraft not participating in ADS-B is received from ground stations via 978MHz TIS-B transmissions (Traffic Information Service-Broadcast).  The MLX200 Transceiver provides the same ADS-B IN benefits of MLB100, plus it is certified as a compliant ADS-B OUT solution for IFD440/540 GPS users in aircraft flying below 18,000 feet in the U.S.  The MLX210 Transceiver provides ADS-B IN & OUT, same as the MLX200, except it also has an internal compliant GPS for use in aircraft with an Avidyne EX500, EX600, or EX5000 series Multi-Function Displays and without an IFD440/540 GPS.

While 978MHz ADS-B technology is only used in the Continental United States (CONUS) airspace, Avidyne also offers 1090MHz AXP340 and AXP322 Mode S Transponders with ADS-B OUT for use in the United States and Internationally.  All countries outside the U.S. are exclusively using the 1090MHz protocol. 1090MHz ADS-B OUT is required for aircraft flying above 18,000 ft in CONUS.

Availability

The MLX200 Transceiver, MLX210 Transceiver with embedded GPS receiver is $4,995, and MLB100 Receiver sales price will include the connector kit,  antennas are sold separately.  These systems are expected to be certified and available in the May 2015 time frame.  Release 10.1 software for the IFD540/IFD440 will be certified and available in the May 2015 time frame.

AVIDYNE ANNOUNCES AXP322 REMOTE-MOUNT MODE S TRANSPONDER WITH ADS-B OUT

AXP322 meets the ADS-B Out mandate and is designed for installation with IFD540 or IFD440 FMS/GPS/NAV/COMs; Ideally suited option for aircraft with limited panel or pedestal space.

Avidyne Corporation announced the AXP322 remote-mounted Mode S Extended Squitter Transponder with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out. The AXP322 can be controlled by Avidyne’s IFD540 or IFD440 GPS/NAV/COMs, which also provide an approved GPS position input to the AXP322 for extended squitter ADS-B Out broadcasts. Avidyne previously certified the panel-mounted AXP340 Mode S Transponder with ADS-B Out. Equipping with the AXP322 or the AXP340 allows general aviation aircraft owners to meet the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) NextGen mandate, as well as international requirements for 1090 MHz ADS-B Out, when coupled with an approved GPS source such as the IFD440/540.

“The remote-mounted AXP322 integrates nicely with the IFD540/440 providing a 1090MHz ADS-B Out surveillance solution for customers with limited panel or pedestal space,” said Dan Schwinn, Avidyne’s CEO. “As an example, the remotely-mounted AXP322 will free up space and allow Entegra-equipped Cirrus owners to install a large-screen IFD540 as GPS/NAV/COM #1, along with an IFD440 as GPS/NAV/COM #2, in the pedestal where their existing dual 430s and panel-mounted transponder reside.”

“This will give these Cirrus owners a terrific upgrade solution with dual touch-screen GPS/NAV/COMs that perfectly complements and works seamlessly with their Entegra glass,” Schwinn added.

Along with the AXP322, Avidyne offers the industry’s newest and best range of retrofit avionics products for general aviation aircraft, including the AMX240 Audio Panel, the AXP340 Mode S/ADS-B Transponder, and the IFD440/540 FMS/GPS/NAV/COMs with built-in Bluetooth® and WiFi capability.

About the AXP322

The AXP322 is a remote-mounted Class 1 (250Watt), Mode S, Level 2 1090MHz Datalink Transponder with Extended Squitter (ES) that meets all the requirements for Mode S elementary surveillance for both IFR and VFR flight. The fully TSO’d AXP322 encodes and transmits the required ADS-B Out information, including your aircraft’s GPS-derived position, along with ground track, ground speed and altitude, in a series of extra pulses (called Extended Squitter) on the Mode S data stream.

Measuring only 2.44”x 1.70” x 5.55” and weighing only 1.0 lbs, its compact design allows the AXP322 to be remotely mounted virtually anywhere in the aircraft, with display and mode selection controlled by any IFD540 or IFD440 using Release 10.1 software.

Availability

The AXP322 Mode S Transponder will be certified and available in May 2015. Connector kit and Mounting Tray are included, while the antenna is sold separately.

AVIDYNE ANNOUNCES BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD FOR IFD540 & IFD440 FMS/GPS/NAV/COMS

MK10 Mini Keyboard allows pilots to wirelessly control and enter flight plans into the IFD540 or IFD440 via integrated Bluetooth®.

Avidyne Corporation introduced today their new MK10 Mini Keyboard that gives pilots an additional method of controlling and entering flight plans into Avidyne's IFD540 and IFD440 FMS/GPS/NAV/COM systems wirelessly via integrated Bluetooth® .

“We are excited to offer the MK10 Mini Keyboard, which is our first but certainly not our last wireless device for the IFD540 or IFD440,” said Dan Schwinn, Avidyne CEO. “Integrated Bluetooth and WiFi technologies open up lots of possibilities for IFD540 and IFD440 customers, and Avidyne will continue to expand our product offerings and wireless capabilities.”

About the MK10 MINI KEYBOARD

The pocket-size MK10 Mini Keyboard, measuring 4.5 inches x 2.25 inches x 0.375 inches, is a customized Bluetooth device offered by Avidyne specifically for the IFD540 and IFD440. The MK10 lets pilots wirelessly enter flight plans and waypoints, execute "Direct TO" operations, change Pages and Tabs, and zoom the Map range in and out, among other things.

The IFD540 was initially certified in July 2014, and included integrated hardware needed to support Bluetooth and WiFi functionality. The MK10 Mini Keyboard will be enabled for the first time via a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) after the certification of the upcoming Release 10.1 software upgrade for the IFD540 and IFD440 is completed.

Avidyne will continue to work with selected device and application developers to expand upon the significant potential of wireless connectivity capabilities in the cockpit made possible with WiFi and Bluetooth technologies, and announcements of additional wireless functionality will be forthcoming with future software releases.

Availability

The IFD540 and IFD440 FMS/GPS/NAV/COMS with integrated Bluetooth and WiFi are certified and available now, install kits and antennas are sold separately, as is the MK10 Bluetooth Mini Keyboard.

AVIDYNE ANNOUNCES RELEASE 10.1 SOFTWARE FOR IFD540 & IFD440 FMS/GPS/NAV/COMS

Release 10.1 software adds new IFD540 functionality, and will be the first software release of the new IFD440.

Avidyne Corporation, a leading provider of integrated avionics and safety systems for general aviation aircraft, announced today that certification of their IFD440 FMS/GPS/NAV/COM and Release 10.1 software for the IFD540 FMS/GPS/NAV/COM should be completed in May 2015.

“We are excited to be bringing the IFD440 certification program to its conclusion, and the certification of Release 10.1 software will also bring many new features to the IFD540,” said Dan Schwinn, Avidyne CEO. “We are continuing to grow our product portfolio and enhance our existing products, and we are confident that our customers will appreciate the added benefits of this R10.1 upgrade.”

About Release 10.1

Release 10.1 (R10.1) software is a field-loadable upgrade that provides IFD540 owners with product improvements and new functionality such as support for display of ADS-B weather, scrollable data blocks, expanded checklists, rubber-banding of the active flight plan leg, and multiple-user customization of checklists, user settings, user-defined waypoints, routes, and more. R10.1 also adds support for control of Avidyne's new remote-mounted AXP322 remote transponder, and R10.1 is needed to enable the new MK10 Mini Keyboard for wireless control of the IFD540 and IFD440 via Bluetooth®.

Availability

The Release 10.1 software upgrade will be offered at no charge for all current IFD540 customers and available with initial shipments of the IFD440. Avidyne expects certification of Release 10.1 software for the IFD540 in May 2015, and STC for Bluetooth activation shortly after that.