MLX780 Upgrade Available To Existing 770s

In addition to news of its ADS-B capable TAS600A traffic alerting system announced at AEA 2009, Avidyne also traveled to Germany this week... where the company took the wraps off its new MLX780 Iridium-based transceiver at AERO Friedrichshafen. The new device provides worldwide airborne satellite telephone service, as well as two-way datalink weather capability.

Avidyne personnel state the MLX780 has industry-standard handset and 3rd-party dialer interfaces, plus an industry-standard audio panel interface that allows pilots to communicate directly through their headset.

"We have a growing installed base of Entegra and EX500 customers in Europe and around the world who now have our satellite-based datalink weather system," said Patrick Herguth, Avidyne's Chief Operating Officer. "The addition of airborne telephone capability provides them with even more utility, plus it makes the system more compelling for pilots in the United States who have had access to broadcast datalink but wanted affordable telephone communication as well."

"The MLX780 is the logical next step in leveraging the global capabilities of the Iridium network," said Avidyne president Dan Schwinn. "Bi-directional worldwide communication between ground and air provides a whole host of opportunities for continued product expansion, and the MLX780 provides the connection to make it happen." 

The MLX780 is a single-channel Iridium transceiver that is capable of providing in-flight satellite telephone and two-way datalink weather. Utilizing Avidyne's Network Operations Center (NOC) and the 66-satellite Iridium constellation, the MLX780 provides WSI's industry-leading InFlight weather data products for display on Avidyne's Entegra and EX500 Multi-Function Displays (MFD).

The MLX780 is designed to interface to 3rd-party handsets, telephone dialers and audio panels. Deliveries are expected to begin in Q4 2009, but Avidyne is accepting orders now for the special introductory price of $14,990 -- $3,000 more than the MLX770. Existing owners of the prior system may upgrade their MLX770 units for $2,000.

FMI: www.avidyne.com