Cirrus Design and Avidyne

In late January Cirrus Design delivered its first SR22 equipped with an Avidyne FlightMax multifunction display. Cirrus will provide two different FlightMax displays in SR22s, the EX3000C and the EX5000C. The former, which will be offered only with the base model SR20 avionics package, features the same large 10.4-inch LCD display as the 5000C; both displays present model-specific checklists. But because it has an Arinc 429 interface, the 5000C can display advanced GPS data, including DME arcs, holding patterns and other kinds of existing or future curved path routings. The 429 interface is also required for working with the popular Goodrich Skywatch traffic advisory system. The EX5000C will be offered in all other Cirrus avionics packages.

The Avidyne displays are seen as the cornerstone of Cirrus' short-range plans to incorporate an increasing number of utilities into the multifunction display. Plans include showing pilots digital engine and fuel monitoring, satellite-linked weather information, terrain warnings and approach chart display.

Cirrus will build all new-order airplanes with the Avidyne multifunction displays, and the company is urging customers to upgrade existing orders to the new package. Avidyne MFDs will also be available as retrofit packages for installation in existing SR20s and SR22s.

Avidyne has also announced that its FlightMax 950, 850, 750, 650 and 450 systems can display curved paths, such as DME arcs, procedure turns and holding patterns, when paired with the Garmin 400/500 series GNS navigators. FlightMax displays can now also interface with Bendix/King's KTA 870 traffic sensor and KMA 880 IHAS system, as well as with the Ryan TCAD 9900BX traffic sensor. FlightMax can interface with 22 radar systems, Honeywell's enhanced ground proximity warning system and all popular traffic alerting systems. New systems are already shipping with these improvements; upgrades to existing FlightMax systems will be available later this spring at a cost of $500.