What's New -- Products and Services

This month, AVweb's survey of the latest products and services for pilots, mechanics and aircraft owners brings you charts for PDAs, EFIS, autopilot interfaces, videos, survival knifes and more.

If you know of a new product or service other AVweb readers should hear about, please send us a note.

MyAirplane Charts for PDAs

MyAirplane.com has introduced three new sets of charts for use on your PocketPC-based handheld computer: PDA Enroute Charts, PDA Plates, and PDA Sectionals.

MyAirplane.com claims they can compress the original NACO charts to 1/10th their size and maintain near-perfect quality.

The PDA Sectionals application delivers the VFR sectionals for the entire U.S. (including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands), and allows for searching, zooming, rotating, and panning. PDA Sectionals allows the user to select which charts to place on the memory card. The continental U.S. will fit on a 512 Mb card, or put half of the country on an inexpensive 256MB card. The price of the PDA Sectionals is $25 for a single cycle or $123 for an annual subscription updated every 28 days.

The PDA IFR Pack includes both PDA Plantes and PDA Enroute Charts. PDA Plates contains over 12,600 Terminal Procedure Publications. PDA Enroute Charts holds all the high- and low-altitude enroute charts. The entire package fits on a 512 Mb memory card. This bundle sells for $25 for a single cycle or $123 for an annual subscription with updates every 28 days.

The charts (both VFR and IFR) are full-color, high-resolution images for use on PDAs running Pocket PC software. All products reportedly meet the requirements under FAR 91.103, FAR 91.175, and AC 120-76A.

For more information, please visit the Web site.

Sennheiser Headset Battery Pack

Sennheiser Electronic Corporation offers the BP-04 -- a new, portable battery pack with an auto-shutoff feature. The BP-04 powers the HMEC300 series and HMEC400 NoiseGard line of headsets.

The new BP-04 provides 15 hours of operation with four AA batteries. It is similar in size and shape to the BP-03 it replaces. The new battery pack includes an exterior on/off switch, two LED indicator lights: The yellow one indicates power is on and the red one indicates power is low with only 30 minutes remaining. The BP-04 also has a unique interior switch that allows users to deactivate the auto-shutoff feature.

The BP-04 is included with the purchase of new HMEC 300 series or HMEC 400 NoiseGard headsets. It can be purchased separately and is sold with a two-year warranty.

Sennheiser HMEC300 and HMEC400 NoiseGard headsets are designed for use in the extremely high-noise cockpits of most general aviation aircraft and helicopters. Details on their Web site.

EGView Update

EGTrends has released an updated version of their EGView engine analysis software. Designed to work with all-cylinder engine monitors (like JPI, GEM, and others), EGView has charting tools and comparison systems, and the ability to store data in an organized manner (such as by flight).

New in Version 1.1 are the following:

• GAMI Tool automatically creates GAMI Spread report
• Simulator Tool for data playback
• Trend Tool for data analysis
• Import data from engine monitors by JPI, Avidyne, Electronics International, GEM, and Chelton Sierra Flight

With the Trend Tool, you can view your data from all of your flights on one screen. EGView 1.1 implements maximum and average calculations into a single Trends window.

GAMI Spread reports are created using a curve-fitting calculation to interpolate your actual data in order to get a very accurate GAMI spread. The report displays cylinder peak order, GAMI spread and reports if you are moving from Lean to Rich, or Rich to Lean.

Single-engine, twin-engine and Avidyne engine monitor simulators have been developed to allow you to playback your engine monitor data. You can open an interesting flight, select the simulator from the Tools menu and then playback the data to see what it looked like in the plane.

For those who already own EGView version 1.0, the upgrade is free. For new customers, EGView v1.1 starts at about $150. Details on the EGTrends Web site.

Chelton EFIS for Citation 501s

Chelton Flight Systems has been granted an STC permitting installation of their FlightLogic Synthetic Vision EFIS in Cessna Citation 501s.

The Chelton EFIS installation includes single or dual GPS WAAS receivers, full-function FMS, single or dual Litef fiber-optic gyros, Class A or B TAWS, autopilot interface, digital flight recorder, voice warning master caution system, and dual RVSM air data computers.

Chelton claims the EFIS installation can be completed in two to three weeks for a turn-key price of $187,000 (including TAWS and AHARS) and satisfies FAA mandates for both TAWS and RVSM. It also replaces the mechanical autopilot gyros with a solid-state, strap-down, fiber-optic gyro system used on airliners.

The FlightLogic EFIS is also STC’d for King Air 90/100/200/300, Conquest I and II, all Cheyenne, all Commander, MU-2, Pilatus PC-12, TBM-700, Piaggio Avanti, and hundreds of other aircraft, including helicopters.

For more information, visit the Chelton Web site.

Mountain Airstrip Videos Online

You can now get instant, online viewing of videos showing flight into difficult, mountain airstrips.

MOUNTAINFLYINGVIDEOS.com features Mile Hi airstrip and others in the "Big Creek Four," along with other tamer airstrips in the U.S. and British Columbia that are accessible to competent private pilots for camping and flightseeing. The Website and its staff are also being used in political action campaigns to reopen airstrips and create new ones.

The Web site has been used since early in 2004 to familiarize pilots and the general public about the rewards and demands of backcountry airstrip flying. The cost is about $8 for three days of use.

IS&S Analog Interface Unit Allows RVSM for AP-104 Auto Pilot

Innovative Solutions & Support announced the launch of a new Analog Interface Unit (AIU) that will support RVSM certification for aircraft operating an Autopilot AP-104. The unit is now in production and provides the altitude hold signal to the auto pilot that is required to obtain RVSM approval.

The AP-104 is a legacy autopilot made by Rockwell Collins. It is employed on a number of business jet aircraft including Falcon 20 and Raytheon Hawker.

Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) compliance has been implemented throughout most of the world. The FAA requires domestic RVSM (DRVSM) implementation to be completed by January 20, 2005.

For more information, visit the IS&S Web site.

RSK Folding Knives for Survival Situations

Everyone deserves a knife they can trust their life to in extreme conditions. Aeromedix and Doug Ritter of "Equipped to Survive" have introduced the new Doug Ritter RSK folding knife, manufactured by Benchmade to Doug's specifications. Features include:

• One-hand opening
• Locking blade
• Pocket clip
• Fully ambidextrous (clip, lock and blade opening)
• Traditional wide-chord drop point blade shape, 3 to 3.5 inches long
• Composite non-slip handle/scales
• Finger guard
• Lanyard hole
• Stainless steel blade

Doug Ritter also recently introduced the Mini-RSK Mk1 2.88 inch (7.32 cm) blade. The Mini weighs 2.68 oz. (76 g).

The Mini-RSK retains the essential features of the full-sized RSK Mk1 (above), just in a more compact package, for $100.

The RSK Mk1 and Mini-RSK Mk 1 are available from the Aeromedix Web site.

Micro Vortex Generators for Mooney

Micro Aerodynamics has been granted an STC to install their micro vortex generators (VGs) on Mooney models.

Stall speed for the Mooney, fitted with the tiny VGs, is reduced by 8 percent, Micro Aerodynamics claims. Roll and pitch control are effective into stall, and slow-speed handling is enhanced. Takeoff and landing rolls are reduced with the VGs in place.

The Micro VG Kit for the Mooney consists of 98 VGs that are attached aft of the leading edge of the wing. Another 34 VGs are mounted on the vertical stabilizer and 48 are fixed on the underside of the horizontal stabilizer. The process of installing takes about a day.

The VGs, 1/4-inch high and an inch long, are curved to accommodate the contour of the airfoil. When secured in place, they keep the boundary layer of air attached to the flying surfaces, allowing for higher angles of attack and lower stall speeds.

Vortex generators have no effect on high speed cruise and do not collect ice.

Manufactured under an FAA PMA, using aircraft grade 6063-T6 aluminum, the VGs are alodined and ready for painting. Complete kits, with illustrated manuals sell for $1,450, plus shipping and handling. For an additional $100 they can be painted to match the aircraft’s base color.

Additional information is available on the Micro Aerodynamics Web site.

Narco AT165 Transponder

Narco has introduced the new AT165 transponder. Features include one-touch code-entry knob, multiple timers with alarm output, and altitude display with visual and audible altitude hold warning. Dual independent displays with single-button data exchange allow use in the unlikely event of a display problem.

The AT165 is both a receiver and a 250W transmitter which responds automatically to ground based radar interrogation. When interrogated, the squawk code and the pressure altitude of the aircraft are displayed on the ATC radar screen. Audible alerts from the AT165 warn the pilot when flying outside of the desired altitude range.

The AT165 directly replaces original Narco AT50, AT50A, AT150, and AT155 transponders.

The new unit will be sold by Narco's dealers and will map for approximately $1500, and credits are available when exchanging for older Narco transponders. Check out the Narco Web site for details.