Genesys say they’re working on it for the STEC3100, but so far it’s only the Garmin APs which have it, you’re right.
Enroute VNAV output to an a/p
Are there any GA avionics which do that i.e. you can program a vertical profile and the AP will climb/descend?
If so, which autopilot supports that?
@Denopa posted here about the Garmin GTN version, which presumably works only with a Garmin AP, because I don’t think any other AP supports vertical guidance except on an IAP. Interestingly and unsurprisingly the Garmin solution works only with descents, not climbs.
arj1 wrote:
Does anyone know if those functions are going to be introduced any time soon?
No one but Avidyne knows for sure. They stopped providing availability estimates a few years ago because delays just caused too much negative feedback. Now they are more like Garmin in that respect and announce availability when it happens.
The next major feature release will be 10.3. This has been in the pipeline for about 3 years so it must be getting fairly close, whatever “close” means. There has been some information released about what that will contain. This is on their forum and was mentioned in a webinar last summer. Two items of which I’m aware are RF legs and a higher resolution map including power lines. Enroute VNAV output to an a/p will definitely not make it into 10.3 and that might never make it since the GTN output data stream is Garmin proprietary.
but there are claims that the GI275 STC is written in such a way that prevents this.
I think you will find plenty of US shops don’t worry about this 
It comes back to the old argument that anything not shown on an STC cannot be connected.
chflyer wrote:
The only Garmin GTN features that I currently miss on my IFD are a) IAPs with RF legs and b) en-route VNAV output stream for an a/p.
Does anyone know if those functions are going to be introduced any time soon?
There’s a demo app for iPad which you might find useful.
chflyer wrote:
The Avidyne unit behaves more like an FMS on bigger iron…..
Thank you! I am quite familiar with big iron FMS systems, but have not had any experience of Avidyne. It sounds very interesting, atlough I suspect other group members may be less keen to venture away from the familiar GNS/GTN lineup. I will have to see if we can get a demo of some sort.
Pirho wrote:
how you find the philosophy different and also is there anything you miss from the Garmin unit?
The Avidyne unit behaves more like an FMS on bigger iron. In many ways it is a further development of the Apollo CNS480, which was also considered to be an FMS-like device and much ahead of the GNS although being from the same era. I’m not familiar in detail with the Garmin GTN line, but the user interface seems to be more similar to the portable line with menu layers which is very familiar to many private pilots.
As far as what to miss from the Garmin unit, the IFD is IMHO better in all ways than the GNS it replaces and has a number of features that were missing from the GTN when it first came out, such as wifi connectivity and the ability to display radar and video (e.g. infrared) streams. But the competition forced Garmin to play catch-up and the IFD has lost some of that advantage. The only Garmin GTN features that I currently miss on my IFD are a) IAPs with RF legs and b) en-route VNAV output stream for an a/p.
Also, apparently, there is no current official support for the Garmin GI275 although I have heard that some shops in the US will sign it off without it. The G5/GFC500 are supported on the basis of being a GNS compatible device, but there are claims that the GI275 STC is written in such a way that prevents this.
Peter wrote:
That’s a new one… which countries need that?
Every single one, I think, though in some cases it may be done implicitly via the CAA, and some countries (including the UK) only care about the kinds of equipment installed (e.g. COM radio, DME, transponder, etc.) rather than specific models or serial numbers, in which case swapping a GNS for IFD need not be registered – I stand corrected.
registering the new unit + deregistering the old one with your national telecom authority because it includes a radio transmitter.
That’s a new one… which countries need that?
