Installation manual

Avidyne | DFC90, 100 FAQs (Last updated: 26 June 2012)

(DFC90, 100) Are there any other sources of information where I can learn more

about the autopilot products or programs? Avidyne is hosting frequent webinars now

on the DFC series of autopilots. Our products page of our website also contains some

more information at http://avidyne.com/products/dfc90/index.asp and

http://avidyne.com/products/dfc100/index.asp .

We also maintain an online forum where more information gets periodically added. This

can be accessed at http://avidynelive.com/forum_topics.asp?FID=16&title=dfc90-

dfc100-digital-autopilot

We are also providing occasional Twitter tweets that are providing periodic program and

product updates under the Twitter Username “AviJake”. Finally, a number of customer

testimonials are being posted at http://www.avidyne.com/landing/dfc90/testimonials.asp

Installation Questions

(DFC90) What do you expect the DFC90 install time to be for Cirrus-Entegra-S-TEC

55X configurations? Avidyne is estimating 3-5 labor hours for installers to perform the

complete install and checkout. The entire installation consists of the

removal/replacement of the S-TEC 55X from its tray, replaced by the DFC90 (this takes

approximately 5 minutes) and in the case of the DFC90 system, the replacement of the

PFD with a DFC-compatible PFD and then a system checkout. Avidyne requires a

system checkout to involve a nominal flight test to verify modes in-air. Based on results

of the early pilot program, Avidyne has eliminated the mandatory pre-install servo and

rigging “goodness” tests. This will eliminate most of the remaining installation time.

Those tests are included in the DFC90 install manual in the event the customer or

installer elect to perform them anyway.

However, as of DFC90 Release 2, Avidyne strongly recommends including the optional

wiring of the flap position into the DFC90 autopilot tray. This optional extra step will

add time to the labor required for DFC90 installation but will add some very important

and useful features to Envelope Protection and Alerting as defined earlier in these FAQs.

Estimates of additional labor start with as few as 3-4 extra hours and have ranged up to 8

or greater – you need to check with your install shop for more precise estimates. (updated

10 Oct 2011)

(DFC90) What do you expect the DFC90 install time to be for Piper-Entegra-S-TEC

55X configurations? The install time is highly dependent on the installer and the

experience they have with installing the DFC90 in Piper aircraft. For the installs

performed to date, actual labor hours needed range from 15 hours to approximately 60

hours. (added 17 April 2012)

(DFC90) What do you expect the DFC90 install time to be for

Baron/Bonanza/Skylane-Aspen configurations? We have not yet compiled any

installation estimates but generally speaking, the following tasks will need to be

accomplished: