Vista Aviation Inc.

BENDIXKING DESIGNS AVIONICS WITH USERS IN MIND BendixKing Designs Avionics with Users in Mind. Engineers at BendixKing spend a lot of time thinking about the pilots who fly with their avionics systems, the dealers who sell them and the technicians who install and service them. Read more to learn how BendixKing is driving the future of general aviation. Engineers at BendixKing spend a lot of time thinking about the pilots who fly with their avionics systems, the dealers who se...ll them and the technicians who install and service them. From the moment we conceive a new product, we start considering the requirements of people who will interact with it throughout its lifecycle, said Jake Maxfield, Sr. Industrial Designer for Honeywell’s general aviation division. Our goal is to deliver state-of-the-art avionics systems that are easy and intuitive for users at every touchpoint, from the person who receives the product on the loading dock to the pilot who relies on it to fly safely and efficiently from Point A to Point B, Maxfield added. We truly take an end-to-end view of user experience, unlike avionics companies that focus narrowly on one element of the pilot experience. BendixKing uses a disciplined approach called the Honeywell User Experience (HUE) to assess the needs of the various personas, fictional stand-ins for pilots and others who will interact with the product. Using various tools such as voice of the customer, observational voice of the customer and user analysis HUE professionals can determine what users need from a particular product, test assumptions and refine designs throughout the new-product development process. Pilots are always top-of-mind at BendixKing and the company has a long history of innovations that improve safety, confidence and situational awareness for pilots at all experience levels. BendixKing engineers are breaking new ground in such areas as cockpit automation, situational awareness, touchscreen technology and connectivity, which will take general aviation avionics to a new level. A prime example of BendixKing innovation in practice is the AeroCruze 230, general aviation’s first touch-enabled autopilot, which was introduced in 2019.

Have you been wanting to upgrade your aircraft's instrument panel? Here at Vista Aviation, we perform a wide variety of avionics installs. Anything from ADS-B to full panels. We are proud to show this complete panel upgrade on a customer's Cherokee we just finished. We removed the old analog instruments and installed the following. ... Garmin G3X touch Garmin GTN 750xi NAV/COM Garmin G5 Backup Instrument Garmin G500 autopilot Give us a call and ask for Bill, our Avionics Manger, for a quote today. 818-896-6442

Appareo Introduces TSOed High-Power Charger The Stratus Power Pro fills a need for quick power in the cockpit. Appareo announced on September 9 the update to its Stratus Power in-cockpit charging system, the Stratus Power Pro. The new TSOed unit aims to address the need for a quick-charging solution while in flight.... FAA-certified to TSO-71, the dual 3.0-amp unit has USB-A and USB-C connectors that allow for the charging of both new and legacy portable devices. The charging ports are backlit with blue-tinted LED lighting for easy location in dark flight decks. The update to the Stratus Power provides 20 percent more power to recharge smartphones and other devices while in use during flight. The connectors on the Power Pro are backwards-compatible with the Stratus Power units, making for a convenient swap for owners who want to upgrade. The unit is US-built, and it comes with a five-year warranty.

Appareo integrates with Avidyne’s latest Avidyne‘s new multifunction flight management systems Helios and Atlas join IFD 440, 540, and 550 GPS navigators in the company’s list of products that integrate with Appareo‘s Stratus Insight EFB. The integration allows for two-way communication, so pilots can create flight plans in the FMS and push them to Stratus Insight or, alternatively, push flight plans created on the app into their navigator, Appareo officials explain.... Additionally, if the navigator is receiving ADS-B in, it will send subscription-free weather and ADS-B traffic information directly to Stratus Insight. Other information, such as AHRS data that’s available from an Avidyne navigator, will be sent to Stratus Insight as well. To enable this two-way communication, Avidyne customers connect their iPad or iPhone Wi-Fi to their FMS, and open the Stratus Insight application.

Avionics showcase for pilots launches The Aircraft Electronics Association has launched its Pilot’s Guide Showcase, a new digital stage highlighting everything from features and functions of the latest avionics equipment to the installation and service available from AEA member repair stations. PilotsGuideShowcase.net was specifically designed for avionics consumers, such as general aviation pilots and aircraft owners, according to AEA officials. The digital platform features...Continue reading

FAA PROPOSES CORROSION AD FOR AEROSTAR TWINS The FAA has proposed an airworthiness directive requiring inspections of several Aerostar Aircraft Corp. twin models for corrosion of elevator and aileron balance tubes and possible replacement of the tubes. The proposed AD, which affects an estimated 404 airplanes of Aerostar models PA60-601P, PA60-602P, and PA60-700P, was prompted by reports of corrosion on the elevator and aileron balance tubes of a PA60-601P.... The balance tubes counteract the effects of cabin pressurization. Most Aerostar PA60 airplanes have pressurized cabins, the AD says. After the finding on the first airplane, Aerostar inspected four additional airplanes in the PA-60 fleet. Aerostar reported four out of these five airplanes had corrosion on both the aileron and elevator balance tubes, the FAA said, noting that the condition could result in failure of the aileron and elevator balance tubes. This failure could cause the aileron and/or elevator balance tubes to jam and result in loss of control of the airplane. Procedures for the repetitive inspections that must be performed within 10 hours’ time in service from the AD’s effective date, and any necessary replacements, are described in Aerostar Service Bulletin SB600-138, dated August 30, 2018. Comments on the AD may be submitted until August 10 online or by mail to U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Please include Docket No. FAA-2020-0574; Product Identifier 2019-CE-015-AD at the beginning of your comments.

As an authorized Appareo dealer are excited to announce a trade-up offer for aircraft owners who switch from UAT (skyBeacon, tailBeacon, or Garmin GDL-82) to Stratus ES/ESG. Appareo is offering up to $1,300 trade-up value! $1,000 for the UAT (skyBeacon, tailBeacon, or Garmin GDL-82), plus another $300 for a GTX 327, or $200 for a Mode C transponder. How to Redeem:... 1. Email [email protected] for a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number. Use the subject line "UAT Trade Up." 2. Complete the UAT Trade Up Form. 3. Ship the trade-in unit(s) to Appareo, including a printed copy of the UAT Trade Up Form. 4. Once received, we will inspect and test the unit(s). Appareo will issue a check or apply the credit to your dealer account after each unit is verified. 5. It’s the dealer’s responsibility to relay the trade-up amount back to the customer. Terms & Conditions: $1,000 trade-up offer applies to skyBeacon, tailBeacon, or Garmin GDL-82. $200 trade-up offer applies to any Mode C transponder. $300 trade-up offer applies to Garmin GTX 327. All trade-in units must be returned in good cosmetic condition and in perfect working order. All units will be bench-tested upon return and prior to credit. The trade-in credit can only be applied to the purchase of one Stratus ES/ESG. One UAT device credit and one transponder credit per one Stratus ES/ESG purchase per customer. Appareo Dealers are responsible for shipping the trade-in unit(s) to Appareo. Appareo is not responsible for any lost or damaged packages before they arrive at our warehouse. Appareo is not responsible for shipping costs of the trade-in unit(s). Appareo is not responsible for installation or shop time of the install or removal. Trade-in devices must be received by Appareo within 30 days of Stratus ES/ESG purchase. Trade-in devices and the UAT Trade Up Form must be sent to the following address: Appareo Attn: UAT Trade Up 1830 NDSU Research Circle North Fargo, ND 58102 Give us a call here at Vista Aviation and ask for Bill De Barmore if you have any further questions about your avionics needs.

Garmin autopilot approved for nearly all Piper PA-28s and PA-32s Garmin has received FAA Supplemental Type Certification (STC) for the GFC 500 autopilot in additional aircraft models, including the Piper PA-32RT-300 and PA-32RT-300T. The certification now approves the GFC 500 for installation in nearly all single-engine Piper PA-28 and PA-32 aircraft models, according to Garmin officials....Continue reading

This Week In Aviation News" Proposed AD Affects Roughly 6,600 Cessna Aircraft The action focuses on certain Cessna 180/182/185 models.... A proposed airworthiness directive stands to affect 6,586 Cessna 180, 182, and 185 models, driven by a report of cracks found in the tailcone and horizontal stabilizer attachment on a 185 that had displayed excessive play while undergoing maintenance. After a detailed inspection, the tailcone reinforcement braces were found cracked on both sides of the airplane, according to the FAA’s proposed AD document. Upon investigation of other related models from the same general age cohort, the FAA found similar cracking on 29 additional airplanes. The FAA determined that the combination of the attachment structure design and high loads during landing contribute to the development of cracks in the tailcone and horizontal stabilizer attachment structure, reported the proposed AD. This condition, if unaddressed, could result in failure of the horizontal stabilizer to tailcone attachment and lead to tail separation with consequent loss of control of the airplane. Guidance already exists in the most part for the remedy of the AD, as the FAA determined that Textron Aviation Single Engine Mandatory Service Letter SEL-55-01, dated December 7, 2017, calls for inspection and remediation of the same areas on the empennage of those Cessna models. The action’s comment period ends on June 29, 2020, so pilots are encouraged to weigh in soon if they have valuable information or opinions to share.

PIPER FIRST WITH GARMIN AUTOLAND APPROVAL SYSTEM TAKES OVER FOR INCAPACITATED PILOTS The FAA on May 15 handed Piper officials the much-anticipated certification papers for the revolutionary Garmin Autoland system. The approval makes the Piper M600/SLS the first airplane ever certified with a system that will land the airplane on its own should the pilot become incapacitated.... The milestone caps a yearslong effort by Garmin and several aircraft manufacturers to bring the sophisticated system to market. Piper brands it the HALO safety system. This is the first aircraft to be certified with one of the most significant advancements in general aviation history. As a company that has always held safety at the forefront of our culture, we are proud to be first to market with Autoland, said Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott. Additionally, it is our great honor to pave the way for others to follow with this new technology. AOPA received a demonstration of the system nearly a year ago. But even then Garmin had been working on it since 2011, bringing together a series of previously introduced safety technologies and capping them off with an overlying decision-making system to find a suitable runway for landing the aircraft if a pilot doesn’t interact with the Garmin G3000 panel for a period of time, or if someone on board pushes an Autoland button. The FAA certification of Autoland is a day of celebration for the entire aviation industry as we redefine the expectations of not only the pilot, but more importantly the passenger, and what should be standard equipment on general aviation aircraft, said Phil Straub, Garmin executive vice president and managing director of aviation. Our congratulations to Piper for certifying this safety enhancing technology on the M600 and delivering one of the industry's most significant innovations to our respective customers. Once activated, Autoland uses the G3000’s on-board navigation and weather information to find the nearest suitable runway with an RNAV approach. The system considers wind, thunderstorms, and other weather considerations as well as runway length appropriate for the particular model of airplane. It then squawks the emergency transponder code, begins broadcasting to air traffic control and nearby pilots, and then using autothrottles descends to the runway, deploying gear and flaps. Once on the runway it brings the airplane to a stop and shuts off the engine. Throughout the automated sequence it also plays videos on the multifunction display to educate any passengers about what is happening, how to prepare for landing, and, ultimately, how to open the door and get out on the runway.

URGENT: READ THIS BEFORE FLYING! USE CAUTION BEFORE FLYING DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC Has your medical certificate, flight review, or instrument currency expired? If so, read this to determine whether you can fly.... The FAA’s 94-page special federal aviation regulation on flying during the coronavirus pandemic is complicated, and pilots need to read it carefully to determine what does and does not apply to their individual situations. The flowcharts and decision guide below are offered to help you avoid getting crosswise with the rulesor safetyand to steer you clear of bad advice you might get by word of mouth or from other informal sources. Some of the provisions, especially those related to flight reviews and instrument proficiency, apply only to those who plan to fly five types of specific operations for which the FAA has determined relief is appropriate under the SFAR. However, medical certificate extensions have a different set of qualifications that depend on dates, not the type of flight operation. Confusing, isn’t it. Your first step is to figure out whether the SFAR’s provisions concerning flight review or instrument currency apply to your case. If they do, proceed to page two of the flow chart and follow the yes column on the flow chart. If you end up in the no column, it means the SFAR doesn’t apply to you and you must comply with the same flight-review and instrument currency rules that you have followed before. Has your flight review expired, and does the SFAR’s provisions apply to your case? https://download.aopa.org//Visio_SFAR_Flowchart_4_FAR%2061

Cancellation of AirVenture 2020 Tough on Aviation Industry and Community This would have been EAA’s 68th annual event. The COVID-19 outbreak claimed another industry victim last week: EAA AirVenture 2020, scheduled for this July. The announcement of the show’s cancellation didn’t come as much of a surprise to an already weary aviation industry following a host of other show cancellations over the past month and a half. Yet Experimental Aircraft Association CEO and chairman Ja...Continue reading

ADS-B JOINS SEARCH-AND-RESCUE RESOURCES MAY HAVE HELPED FIND PILOT WHO DITCHED IN BAHAMAS The FAA has long touted improved search and rescue as a benefit of ADS-B, which can provide accurate and timely last-reported positions....Continue reading

SPRING CLEANING YOUR AIRCRAFT AND HANGAR As the temperatures rise and we begin to make our way outdoors, cleaning of your aircraft is a must. There are no excuses. You can’t push it off. We know winter was unbearable and you didn’t want to go outside, but now, with the sun shining and the birds chirping, you must show your aircraft and hangar some love. To make sure you aren’t missing any important steps while cleaning your aircraft and hangar, here’s a handy-dandy check list...: Hangar: Go through your storage and remove anything that is expired, such as chemicals Wipe down any surfaces, benches, cabinets, etc. Take this time to remove anything loose from the far (e.g. cables, tools, and boxes) Check your electrical equipment and make Check your hangar doorsmake sure they open and close smoothly Take inventory of mechanics and tools. Order anything you can’t find or don’t have Make sure you have the necessary supplies in your hangar: Broom and dustpan Locks Oil mops Flashlight First aid kit Etc. Initial Outside Check: Do a thorough pre-flight, more so than normal with emphasis on things such as: Leaks Corrosion Bird nest Evidence of mice Rusts Tire Cleaning the outside: Check to make sure the battery is in good condition Lubricate everything on your lubrication chartbe sure to check what type of lubrication each area needs Clean off your aircraft, including the windows Bring back some shine to your aircraft by polishing it. Watch this video for a quick guide on how (only do if you have you are experience!) Cleaning the inside: Vacuum the inside of your aircraft thoroughly Wipe down the panel Clean the inside of the windows Go through your storage areas and throw out any products or chemicals (or snacks that you accidentally left over the winter) that are expired out Clean in-seat monitors using microfiber cloth