Avidyne Entegra
Avidyne Entegra is an integrated aircraft instrumentation system, produced by Avidyne Corporation, consisting of a primary flight display (PFD), and multi-function display (MFD). Cirrus became the first customer of the Entegra system and began offering it on the SR20 and SR22 aircraft in 2003 as the first integrated flight deck for light general aviation (GA). The original Entegra system was designed to use third-party components such as a GPS from Garmin and an autopilot system from S-TEC Corporation.
One of the advantages of these glass flight deck systems is upgradeability. Avidyne has demonstrated this with a continuous stream of hardware and software upgrades,[1] including:
- 2004: Added CMax Electronic Charts and first to certify XM datalink for light GA.
- 2005 Added Primary Engine Instrumentation on PFD.
- 2006: Introduced Release 6, which added Flight Director, V-Speed & Heading on ADI, additional datalink weather products on the MFD, and support for the USB memory-stick data loader.
- 2007: Introduced Release 7, which added support for WAAS/LPV Approach guidance among other things.
- 2008: Introduced Release 8, which expanded weather product for Canadian, Mexico and Caribbean (METARS, TAFs, Color Lightning).
- 2009: Release 9, a hardware and software upgrade that was certified in April 2009.
Entegra Release 9
With the certification of Entegra Release 9 system in April 2009, Avidyne offers dual integrated flight displays (IFD) with the FMS900w,[2] a WAAS-capable flight management system (FMS) that utilizes Avidyne’s all-digital DVX740 VHF NAV/COM radio modules and GPS722 GPS receiver modules, which eliminates the reliance on 3rd-party Garmin 430 radios. The Release 9 upgrade also includes the Avidyne MLB700 which provides Sirius/XM Satellite Datalink Weather from WSI.
Avidyne has introduced a new attitude-based digital autopilot, the DFC100, which can replace the rate-based STEC 55X autopilot in most Release 9 installations.
Entegra Release 9 is considered a 3rd-generation integrated flight deck because it is built on a brand new hardware platform using a modular architecture, dual Byteflight digital databus, all new fully digital radio designs, and incorporating a unique Page & Tab user interface and QWERTY-style FMS control/display unit that are designed to dramatically reduce workload during single-pilot IFR operations.[3]
System Redundancy
Entegra Release 9 system was designed with a fully redundant dual-databus architecture that eliminates traditional "Reversionary Modes."
A typical Entegra Release 9 installation features two large-format IFD5000 Integrated Flight Displays (IFD), which are fully interchangeable for use as PFD or MFD. Since each IFD5000 is fully capable of performing the functions of the other, no unfamiliar or limited reversionary modes are required . In the event of a display failure, the remaining IFD5000 continues to operate as either display format with no loss of functionality.
Some competing glass flight deck systems have limited redundancy, lose critical functionality such as datalink weather, traffic, or even autopilot, and their failure modes force the pilot to learn composite display symbology and "reversionary modes."
GA Glass history
Avidyne was first to certify big glass for light GA with the 2003 launch of Entegra in Cirrus aircraft. This is considered a "first generation" big-glass system that integrates the six 3-inch instruments (6-pack) into a more usable package, along with an exceptionally reliable Air Data and Heading Reference System (ADAHRS) that replaces the “spinning mass” attitude and directional gyros. Entegra Release 8 still relies on a ‘federated’ radio stack (dual G430s) for GPS/NAV/COM capability, as well as audio and transponder.
Use
Avidyne Entegra systems are found in aircraft from such companies as:
Competition
The Avidyne Entegra competes with the Garmin G1000 and Chelton FlightLogic EFIS glass cockpits. However, there are significant differences with regard to the features, degree of integration, intuitive aspects of the design, and overall product utility. Note that the Chelton system is not typically found in airplanes that include the less expensive G1000 or Avidyne systems.