Installation manual

Avidyne | DFC90, 100 FAQs (Last updated: 26 June 2012)
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the same form factor in an effort to minimize costs and installation difficulties. (updated
26 June 2012)
(DFC100) What do you expect the DFC100 install time to be in Cirrus aircraft?
Avidyne is estimating 8-12 labor hours for installers to perform the complete install and
checkout for Cirrus aircraft. The entire installation consists of the removal/replacement
of the S-TEC 55X from its tray, replaced by the DFC100 (this takes approximately 5
minutes) and then update the software in the IFDs via the front bezel USB port and then a
system checkout. Avidyne requires a system checkout to involve a nominal flight test to
verify modes in-air. The other part of the installation is the wiring of the flap switch
input to the harness and ensuring that the Byteflight digital Databus wires run into the
DFC100 autopilot tray. Depending on the date of your R9 installation, most harnesses
are already provisioned for the flap wires. All R9 installations from late-February 2011
and forward will have the full wiring completed as part of the R9 installation. (updated
17 April 2012)
(DFC90, 100) What kind of warranty will the DFC autopilot have? How about a Rel 8
PFD? How about a Rel 9.2.4 IFD? The autopilot will have a 2-year warranty following
installation and the PFD/IFDs will have a 6-month warranty attached to it if not covered
by Flex and 6 months or end of Flex, whichever is longer, if covered by Flex. The
warranty registration form must be sent back to Avidyne by the installer to start that two
year clock. Until that form is received by Avidyne, the warranty start period is assumed
to be the autopilot ship date from the Avidyne factory.
(DFC90, 100) Will the DFC autopilot fall under the Platinum Warranty service? Yes,
both the DFC autopilot and the upgraded PFD are eligible for Platinum service
(DFC90) Is a Rel 8 PFD backward compatible with a S-TEC 55X? Yes it is. Release 8
PFDs will be able to support both the 55X, 55SR, and DFC90 autopilots.
(DFC90) Is a Rel 8 PFD backward compatible with other autopilots? No it is not.
(added 24 July 2011)
(DFC100) Is a Rel 9.2.1 or later IFD backward compatible with a S-TEC 55X? Yes it
is. The software in Release 9.2.1 (or later) IFDs will be able to support both the 55X, and
DFC100 autopilots but since the autopilot uses different signals on the same pins, there is
some wiring changes that mean several hours of labor to convert between the two
configurations. (updated 24 July 2011)
(DFC90, 100) What happens to the removed autopilot? The removed autopilot is
returned to Avidyne as part of the installation process. There is no real market for used
autopilots that we are aware of and those autopilots are aircraft make/model specific. For
those that insist on hanging onto their removed autopilot, the installer should contact
Avidyne Sales directly. (updated 24 July 2011)