Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

All versions of Avidyne’s IFD-series GPS/FMS/navigators will be able to upgrade to the company’s new synthetic vision capability when it is certified later this year. The upgrade is part of the Release 10.2 software and includes an exocentric “in-trail” synthetic vision view, overlay of flight plan route, color-contoured terrain depiction, obstacles, full-color 3-D traffic and terrain warnings. Avidyne also announced the IFD100 iPad app, which connects iPads to the IFD-series navigator, and this app will also be available as part of the IFD 10.2 software upgrade.

 


Avidyne’s newest avionics were also introduced at Sun ’n’ Fun and include the IFD550 (with navcom) and IFD545 (GPS-only) FMS/navigators, both equipped with an attitude reference system (ARS) that drives an attitude display on the system’s screen. The ARS, according to Avidyne, “enables the display of dynamic synthetic vision display for full-motion three-dimensional ‘out-the-window’ as well as exocentric&nbsp;‘in-trail’ views of the aircraft and nearby terrain, obstacles, traffic and terrain.” The ARS-equipped units allow pilots to toggle synthetic vision off for display of a traditional attitude indicator and to overlay horizontal and vertical deviation indicators, a total velocity vector, flight path marker and adjustable field of regard, the company added. IFD models with synthetic vision start at $11,399.

 


For pilots desiring a larger display of the new synthetic vision features, Avidyne’s IFD100 app will enable display of the IFD synthetic vision on the iPad, as well as control of the IFD units from the app.&nbsp;

 


With the iPad connected via Wi-Fi to the IFD, the IFD100 app mimics the knob and touchscreen functions on the IFD systems. Pilots can create a flight plan on the IFD100, then input the plan into the IFD after connecting via Wi-Fi in the cockpit. During flight, flight plans can be edited. The IFD100 app displays ADS-B weather and traffic as well as synthetic vision on the iPad’s large-screen moving map.&nbsp;

 


“The IFD100 represents another great example of&nbsp; the power of our integrated wireless connectivity strategy,” said Avidyne president and CEO Dan Schwinn. “With the proliferation of tablets in the cockpit, we wanted to make it even easier for pilots to manage their information, both pre-flight and en route, and the IFD100 provides a very elegant and easy solution.”

 


In other news Avidyne reminded Sun ’n’ Fun attendees that it is offering a lower-priced IFD440FMS/GPS/nav/com, starting at $12,399, reduced from its prior price of $15,645. The entry-level IFD440 allows customers to add wireless (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth) for $1,300 and forward-looking terrain alerting (FLTA/RTC) for an additional $1,300. It also provided updated information on its Globalstar partnership, and expects its first product based on the voice and internet platform this summer.

 


The company announced key appointments to its sales and business development at Sun ’n’ Fun, including hiring Mitch Biggs, v-p sales and marketing; Ed Paulsen, v-p business development; Steve Gubbins, EMEA sales manager; and promoting Brian Oliver to manager, direct sales for Avidyne.

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

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