Certain Software Revisions May Cause Traffic To Not Display

The FAA has issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) to inform owners and operators of an issue with certain Avidyne SkyTrax6XXA (TAS6XXA) series traffic advisory system flight software versions that may cause traffic to not display on an interfaced display system.

This issue affects TAS6XXA, part number (P/N) 700-00185-(), with flight software P/N 510-00296- 000 Revision 00, Revision 01, and Revision 02, commonly known as Release 2.0.0, 2.0.1, and 2.0.2. This issue is corrected in flight software Revision 03 (Release 2.0.3).

The Avidyne SkyTrax6XXA is a TSO-C147 traffic advisory system intended for use on general aviation aircraft. A typical installation includes the TAS6XXA unit installed with the required antennas and interface wiring to an external display system and to an audio system. The TAS6XXA unit transmits traffic target information to the display system and provides audible alerts and traffic updates via the audio system.

In affected revisions of the TAS6XXA flight software, an output data formatting anomaly may result in intermittent failure to show some or all of the traffic when the system is interfaced to a display using RS232. The display system may or may not display an error message in the presence of this issue. The pilot should suspect that the display of targets is incomplete if multiple targets abruptly and simultaneously disappear from the display or if an aural alert is given for traffic without the expected display of the target. The issue, when it occurs, will self-correct, but the timing and circumstances of its correction are unpredictable.

The following Avidyne TAS6XXA functions and flight software are not affected: The ability of the equipment to acquire or track traffic. Audible alerts or audible traffic updates. The ARINC-429 traffic interface. Check with the installer to determine if the TAS6XXA unit is installed using the RS-232 or ARINC-429 interface. TAS6XXA units with flight software P/N 510-00285-000, commonly known as Release 1.

Avidyne has published Avidyne Service Information Letter 606-00185-002, Revision 00, dated June 24, 2019, which advises owners and operators of this issue. Avidyne has also published Avidyne Service Bulletin (SB) 601-00185-016, Revision 01, dated June 24, 2019, which provides instructions to install the software fix.

The FAA recommends that owners and operators of affected Avidyne TAS6XXA series traffic advisory systems install flight software Revision 03 (Release 2.0.3). Refer to Avidyne SB 601-00185-016, Revision 01, dated June 24, 2019, for further information.

The FAA requests owners and operators to report any cases related to this issue directly to the FAA contact provided at the FMI link below.

(Source: FAA SAIB. Image from file)

FMI: SAIB