Pilots Advised Not To Navigate Solely By Reference To GPS Until Release 9.0.2.2 Is Installed

Avidyne issued a Service Information Letter (SIL) Tuesday which advises owners and operators of Avidyne Entegra Release 9-equipped aircraft that the GPS solution may not be accurate in all cases. Avidyne has determined that the R9 GPS module may erroneously report a status of “SBAS monitored,” resulting in a failure to meet TSO integrity requirements in some cases, possibly accompanied by position errors or false integrity alarms. While no position errors have been observed or reported in the field, Avidyne is taking immediate action to correct this issue.

Avidyne is working to address this issue as expediently as possible and will have Release 9.0.2.2 available in the next two weeks. Until the software is updated, pilots must adhere to the following procedures:

• While flying IFR, pilots should file flight plans only via approved VHF navigational aids, such as VORs, and plan to use ILS or VOR approaches, as long as those approaches do not require DME.
• GPS approaches are not permitted in IFR conditions until the R9 software is corrected.
• Continuously check the GPS position with VHF navigational aids for all operations and phases of flight.
• All distances reported by the system are GPS-derived and are not approved for IFR use until the software is updated. A separate DME receiver, if installed, may be used.

All pilots of R9-equipped aircraft in the US should file a /U equipment suffix. Pilots should not file a /G or /A designation, as the GPS does not meet integrity requirements for enroute and terminal operations. ICAO flight plans should not include ‘G’ or ‘D’ equipment types unless a separate DME is installed.

Avidyne says all Release 9 software versions (9.0.0, 9.0.1, 9.0.2.1) are affected by this potential problem. This issue will be addressed in Release 9.0.2.2, which is expected to be released within the next two weeks. Until 9.0.2.2 is installed in your aircraft, pilots are advised not to rely on GPS for sole means of navigation.

FMI: www.avidyne.com