Shadin Co., Inc. and AeroMech have teamed up to provide what they call a "a fully compliant, plug-and-fly RVSM solution for the Cessna 500/501/550/551/S550 and 560 aircraft." The complete RVSM upgrade package will be provided to select modification centers for a price of $60K. The Shadin solution consists of a drop-in dual Airdata Computer replacement for the AZ241 ADC, which preserves the original design architecture and provides new features. The Shadin/AeroMech RVSM solution incorporates upgradeable outputs (Advisory N1, fuel flow to the FMS, VNAV profiles with GPS, TAWS, and ARINC 429 output for FMS) via additional cards and software to interface the ADC to all foreseen equipment without aircraft wiring changes. This approach protects the left side of the instrument panel for eventual upgrades to flat panel displays and includes an additional altimeter display on the right side. Estimated time required to complete the modification is 2-3 days.

Shadon offers selected dealers a document template to help relieve regulatory paperwork issues associated with airframe airworthiness, and operational approval, and to facilitate an atmosphere of a "complete service", maximizing profit to the shops and simultaneously ensuring good market penetration for the Shadin/AeroMech solution. Flight testing is in process, and full RVSM certification is expected for 3Q/2003.

The Shadin/AeroMech RVSM system features:

• Reads the signal from the fuel flow indicator and passes it to the GPS receiver via RS-232 to complete the fuel management function (i.e., fuel used, fuel remaining, endurance, reserve fuel at destination, and fuel to destination).
• Provides the GPS with TAS to enable calculation of real-time wind in flight.
• Provides the GPS with magnetic heading to enable wind calculations.
• Provides the GPS with baro-corrected altitude for VNAV functions.
• Provides the new MODE-S Transponders with RVSM corrected altitude on the serial data buss.
• Provides the VN-212 with the ability to use the GPS to substitute for the DIME with the necessary switching gear inside the Airdata box.
• Provides an ARINC format output compatible with all Class A TAWS systems (compliance date is March 2005).
• The ARINC output supports upgrades to EFIS systems, enabling them to show all airdata parameters, including IAS, BALT, IVS, TAS, TAT, SAT, and WIND.
• Provides Max N1 that automatically recognizes the flight conditions, takeoff, climb, and cruise taking into consideration whether the Anti-Ice is ON or OFF and uses the proper curve. The information is fed to the multifunction display (Honeywell KMD 850 or the Avidyne both have NTSC video input and became popular replacements for the Radar screens in a graphical format as an arc representing the actual N1 and an index showing the calculated limit. and the mode (take off, climb, cruise). The pilot does not need to read the limit, but simply moves the power lever to align the end of the arc with the index.
• Enables switching from number one system to number two, monitors the difference between the two systems, and annunciates any difference exceeding 200 feet. Additionally, if the two-baro settings are not identical, annunciation can be cancelled by pressing the internally lighted multifunction message button.
• Provides the possibility of adding N2 and ITT to enable an engine trending system (all the other parameters needed for the engine trend monitoring are already present) using the standard P&W ECTM program for the JT-15 engine.
• Provides built-in fuel management system.

FMI: www.shadin.com