June 15, 2010 – Avidyne Corporation, a leading provider of integrated flight deck and safety systems for general aviation aircraft, announced that they have received FAA approval for the Release 9.1 software upgrade to the Entegra Release 9 Integrated Flight Deck (R9) avionics system.

Avidyne has received Technical Standard Order (TSO) approval and was awarded a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC), which provides authorization for installation of the upgrade into the existing fleet of R9-equipped aircraft.

“Release 9.1 is a significant product upgrade for our Entegra Release 9 Flight Deck, and our R9 customers will really appreciate the new features and product improvements that have been incorporated,” said Patrick Herguth, Avidyne’s Chief Operating Officer. 

FMS Centered View - A fourth Map view which centers the map on any selected waypoint in the flight plan.  This feature enables pilots to scroll through the flight plan and view the entire route of flight at a single range setting on the map, to get a better idea of the weather along the route. 

EVS – The ability to fully implement EVS is still awaiting the appropriate third-party hardware STC. Once that is complete, the EVS can be enabled as a paid upgrade in the field via software configuration.

Canada, Mexico, Caribbean METARs and TAFs – WSI offers METAR and TAF

coverage all the way down to South America. You will see METAR flags through the Caribbean, Central America, and north South America. The satellite coverage itself does not extend farther south than Guatemala.

Direct-To Improvements – Multiple Direct-to improvements and you’ll notice in R9.1 that when you do a Direct-To the leg description will show “-D->”.  Previously the Direct-To leg looked the same as the other Direct legs.

LNAV+V Improvements – There are some airports with zero glide path defined. With Release 9.1, the FMS will now inhibit LNAV+V for these airports, and glide path will always be calculated from the runway threshold.

Fuel Range Ring – R9.1 will now display the fuel range ring at all map range settings.

Color strikes for TWX670 lightning overlay.

Frequency List Additions – ASOS frequencies are now included for pilot nomination from within the Freq List.

High Altitude Section ARTCC Frequencies – R9.1 adds the ability to decoded these frequencies for display on the PFD along with all the other communication outlets currently displayed.  The decoded ATC identifier provides which ATC outlet you are talking with.

Class A Airspace in Europe – R9.1 enhances the ability to display Class A airspace in Europe.

Entegra Release 9.1 software is field-loadable by Avidyne-authorized distributors and is being made available to all current Entegra Release 9 owners at no charge. Nominal installation charges may apply.

Utilizing a fully-modular architecture, Entegra Release 9 represents the next generation of integrated flight deck systems for general aviation aircraft.  The Entegra Release 9 system includes dual XGA-resolution IFD5000 displays, dual-redundant FMS900w systems with a QWERTY keypad, next-generation fully-digital VHF NAV/COM radios, and dual WAAS/RNP-capable GPS receivers.

In addition, Entegra Release 9 provides a new level of communication between the FMS/NAV system and the autopilot, greatly reducing pilot workload in critical phases of flight.  Once coupled, the FMS automatically switches the autopilot modes during transitions from en route to approach phases of flight, reducing pilot workload and eliminating ‘mode confusion’ associated with other systems.

Entegra Release 9 is currently available as a certified retrofit upgrade for existing Entegra-equipped Cirrus SR20 and SR22 aircraft, and upgrade programs have been announced for Piper PA-46 and PA-32 aircraft. Release 9 is also available as a factory option on the SR20 and SR22 from Cirrus, a factory upgrade option from Piper on the PA-46, a factory standard configuration on the Extra 500 Spirit, and Release 9 was selected as the avionics flight deck for the recently-announced KAI KC-100 aircraft.