Here is a cut and paste of an email that just went out to all IFD540 pre-buy customers concerning the IFD540 Pilot Program:
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Hello and thank you again for pre-buying one (or more)
Avidyne IFD540 FMS/GPS/NAV/COM(s). The objective of this email is
to introduce the “IFD540 Pilot Program” and to solicit participation from our
early adopters.
The IFD540 is an exciting product and we believe that one
key to making it very successful is for the early full-rate
shipping and installations to be as smooth as feasible – both from the ease of
installation to the way the unit operates. One way we’re trying to
accomplish that is via this IFD540 Pilot Program and that’s why we’re asking
for your help. Are you interested in participating in our IFD540 Pilot Program?
Our plan for the IFD540 Pilot Program is to install a small
number of the IFD540s into aircraft right after certification and to collect
data and feedback on the installations and unit performance in the field before
opening up full-rate shipping and installation. While we are extensively
testing the units both in our labs and in our company aircraft prior to
release, we feel it is critical to try and catch any potential early-on “gotchas”
before widespread installations begin. We anticipate the IFD540
Pilot Program to begin immediately after we receive TSO/STC approval from the
FAA (currently on track for the summer of 2013) and to last between 3 to 5 weeks. If we determine there was some
issue that needed to get resolved prior to full-rate shipping and
installations, we would create a lull between the IFD540 Pilot Program and
full-rate shipping and installation to give us time to correct whatever the
issue was in order to enhance customer and installer experiences and product
behavior. If no such issues are discovered, then we’ll transition
right into full-rate shipping and installations after we declare the IFD540
Pilot Program to be over.
In order to cover as diverse a cross-section of
the customer base as feasible in the IFD540 Pilot Program, we do have some
criteria that we’re looking for in any volunteers. While we’d like most
participant aircraft to be US-based 530W-equipped aircraft, we are looking for
a few non-WAAS aircraft owners who want to stay with non-WAAS installs, a few
non-WAAS aircraft owners who want to upgrade to WAAS, a few non-530 equipped
aircraft and a few non-US-based aircraft. Depending on the number of
volunteers and their aircraft configurations and locations, it is possible that
we will not use everyone who has expressed interest in
participating in the IFD540 Pilot Program.
Some program details:
- This will be a fully certified product and come
with a full ship kit and documentation;
- The owner is responsible for covering any
“normal” installation costs;
- Avidyne will cover the costs of upgrading any
software or hardware that may result from discoveries made during the IFD540
Pilot Program;
- Since the expected duration is so short, we ask
you be prepared to install the unit as soon as possible once the program begins
– we understand some of the logistical challenges this may invoke upon you and
the installation shop but we really hope the installation can be begun within a
few days of program start date;
- Since we’re trying to collect a lot of data and
feedback quickly, we are also expecting that participants fly their aircraft
regularly during the duration of the IFD540 Pilot Program. Avidyne goals
are for participant aircraft to average a minimum of 5 flight hours per week
during the program. We’re also looking for a cross section of VFR and IFR
flights among the aggregate group;
- As part of collecting the data and feedback,
participant aircraft are expected to download the unit data logs from the USB
port on the front bezel of the unit and send that data along to Avidyne on at
least a weekly frequency (we’ll supply method of data transmission at a later
date);
- Installations are to be conducted at an Avidyne
approved “IFD540 Pilot Program Avionics Shop”. We have not defined
that list of shops yet and the questionnaire link will ask you to identify your
preferred avionics shop and ask you about your flexibility in using a different
shop, just in case;
- Early versions of user documentation (e.g. Pilot
Guides) and computer/tablet-based training/familiarization software will be
sent to participants electronically prior to the start of the program to serve
as a form of head-start in knowing how to fully use the product;
- Avidyne expects that any feedback created during
the IFD540 Pilot Program be confidential and shared only with Avidyne during
the Pilot Program.
If you have any questions about the program before
volunteering, please use http://www.avidynelive.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=261&title=ifd540-pilot-program%20 " rel="nofollow - http://www.avidynelive.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=261&title=ifd540-pilot-program
to post your question for all to see OR send an email to Steve
Jacobson, at mailto:sjacobson@avidyne.com" rel="nofollow - sjacobson@avidyne.com
For those that are interested in volunteering to be part of
the IFD540 Pilot Program, we have a short questionnaire for you to fill out
that can be accessed via this website link http://www.avidyne.com/support/ifd540-pilot-program/index.asp" rel="nofollow - http://www.avidyne.com/support/ifd540-pilot-program/index.asp .
Thank you for helping us make this the best product possible.
------------- Steve Jacobson sjacobson@avidyne.com
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