Avidyne’s AviOS10.3 Software for Inflight Displays Gains FAA Approval

CJ Panel featuring an Avidyne IFD550, IFD540, and AXP340. Avidyne’s AviOS10.3 certification will cover its IFD/Atlas/Helios FMS line of products. [Courtesy: Avidyne]

Avidyne has announced that its AviOS10.3 operating system software has been certified for its Integrated Flight Display (IFD) series of FMS/GPS/nav/coms and Atlas/Helios FMS systems.

The company said it applied for and gained approval from the FAA earlier this summer, as FLYING previewed during EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In a statement, Avidyne said the technical standard order approval (TSOA) and supplemental type certificate (STC) approval from the FAA for the AviOS10.3 now allows the company to begin shipping new units, as well as upgrades for the large base of existing Avidyne customers.

“We have faced several challenges in getting AviOS10.3 to market,” said Avidyne president and CEO Dan Schwinn in a statement, “including, of course, the global pandemic and supply chain crises. Avidyne has continued to innovate, and we are pleased to bring these new capabilities to our current and future customers.”

Schwinn said the update included “several significant new functions and features” that FMS customers will find helpful.

New Features

The product’s visual approach feature provides stabilized guidance into any runway in the database, even if there is a published approach to the runway.

The AviOS10.3 software update will include visual approaches to any runway in the database. As shown on this Avidyne IFD 550, the upgrade also allows pilots to select flight legs. [Courtesy: Avidyne]

“In addition, our implementation of visual approaches allows pilots to select straight in, base, or downwind entries, plus glideslope angle with intuitive operation,” said Avidyne’s vice president of worldwide sales, John Talmadge.

The software update also has features for helicopter pilots. Talmadge said those included RADALT display, power line database, half-mile zoom range, and a three arc-second high-definition terrain database option.

Other key features of the system include:

Visual approaches
VNAV (advisory on IFD5XX)
Support for tandem/remote VHF COM/NAV tuning in dual installations.
CDI scaling for oceanic mode
GI275 interface
Map zoom down to 1/2 mile
Power lines added to the database
RADALT display (via 429)
RF legs
Additional ADS-B weather products
Display of ADS-B traffic and weather from portable devices
Extended support for flight operational quality assurance (FOQA)
Support for twin-engine aircraft on fuel calc page
Ability to import user waypoints from CSV file
Improved Wi-Fi configuration to ease integration with Stratus, Foreflight, and other Wi-Fi-connected devices.
Improved pilot setup and configuration pages
Up to 10 user profiles
Weight calculator
Certified TAWS (option)
3-arc second HD terrain data (option)

Field Loadable

While the new IFD and FMS units will ship with the new software already integrated, the company said AviOS10.3 is available as a field-loadable upgrade through authorized Avidyne dealers for existing owners. However, while the AviOS10.3 software is available from Avidyne at no charge, the company said customers should note that dealer installation labor is not included. The upgrade allows customers to enable an approved terrain avoidance and warning system (TAWS) for the new IFD and ATLAS systems. The TSO'd TAWS feature for new IFD, and Atlas systems is a $7,999 option per aircraft, including the higher resolution three arc-second terrain database.

Avidyne avionics fms GPS integrated flight deck multifunction display STC TAWS

Michael WildesAuthor

Michael Wildes holds a master’s degree in Logistics & Supply Chain Management, and a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Science, both from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Previously, he worked at the university’s flight department as a Flight Check Airman, Assistant Training Manager, and Quality Assurance Mentor. He holds MEI, CFI & CFII ratings. Follow Michael on Twitter @Captainwildes.