This video details some HBK products
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl0PpWYBHfw&feature=youtu.be&t=3291
Because the forum text processor doesn’t support Youtube URLs with a starting time, I have put a space after the https to stop it processing the URL.
It is about the KFC230, etc.
It appears that the 230 can only be put into a plane with the KFC150 system already installed i.e. no new installations. This indicates that HBK is still unable to restart production of those old servos. I find that utterly amazing. It’s a total p1sstake and even more amazing given the millions spent on advertising this stuff. They have full page ads in the US mags.
Nice bit of info about no ILS support, too. The rep was obviously having difficulty answering that bit, or indeed answering most of the questions. The interview is really embarrassing to listen to.
While that may be true, it is the Realpolitik.
Should people buy poor service from a disadvantaged underdog, just because they want to support the disadvantaged underdog?
Like I’ve said before, the rarified earth that Garmin breathes where they can certify their own stuff, is not enjoyed by anyone else. So to the consumer it looks like Garmin is so much more on it and professional, able to certify much quicker etc. But the smaller players abide by completely different rules, they have to go through FAA’s reviews and things take forever. This makes it very, very hard for the small players to bring out multiple new platforms and devices in the same time frame Garmin does. Why do we thing BK is licensing stuff rather than certifying themselves? They’re obviously fully capable of doing so. Because it would take 5 years to get a product to market as it is now. I’m sure Avidyne would love to certify a PFD that can compete with Garmin, it would just probably break the company doing so with all the onerous stuff.
Avidyne have two, rather different, problems with the way they deal with customers.
I agree that the former is mostly about money, but the latter is a matter of ethos. I do think that they have changed their behaviour after a couple of PR disasters (SBAS on the IFD and ADS-B on the TAS605), but I am not convinced that they have changed their ethos.
Some insider info I have is that Honeywell are spending many millions on keeping Bendix King afloat.
Specifically tens of millions were spent on the KSN770 which has practically totally failed to sell, but nobody in there is willing to chop it, because if they do, the same argument could be made for all the other recent introductions that aren’t selling either.
Obviously if the KSN770 was moving then HBK would not be re-badging Avidyne IFD boxes.
My take on customer service in general (not just in avionics but right across all business) is that it is directly related to
HBK, like Avidyne, are clearly not making lots of money, but HBK are getting lots poured into them (for the time being) while Avidyne are having to generate their own cash.
If we could get Avidyne products (which are very good) without the Avidyne attitude to customers (which is appalling) it would be a game changer. It is just possible that this marriage will provide that, and then there will be a rational alternative to Garmin.
Have they really certified the KA310? Their Homepage days that they accepts pre-Orders and expect shipment to Start in Q3.
And what is the difference to a G5 which is almost 1.000 USD cheaper?
I would love them to be successful as I agree that Garmin-only would be unhealthy to the market.
No bigger critic of Bendix than me, but they did at Oshkosh come out with quite an aggressive plan to try to win customers back. Bendix has recently certified the Ki300/310 autopilots, and a new AeroVue PFD. They bought TruTrak autopilots. They also offer an avionics plan, with no costs up front. This could be a good option for cash poor users needing an avionics upgrade.
So they’re trying. It might be still too late, but I think it’s important for the market that we try to support as many players as possible. It’s not good if Garmin is the only player.
A load of re-badged products here
and the presenter has already left HBK…