430W doubling in cost?

Just did an RNAV/GPS approach today, and this again confirms the decision to
go with the WAAS upgrade.

"Viperdoc" wrote:

Just did an RNAV/GPS approach today, and this again confirms the decision to
go with the WAAS upgrade.

Rumor has it that the WAAS upgrade for the pre-2007 G1000s will cost ~$15,000,
plus labor.

I'd like to have it, but if the rumor is true, I doubt I'll take the plunge.

--
Dan
T-182T at BFM

On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 19:38:54 -0500, Viperdoc wrote:

Just did an RNAV/GPS approach today, and this again confirms the decision
to go with the WAAS upgrade.

Several members of my club (not a majority, but...) have expressed a
disinterest in WAAS. Admittedly, some of these are not IFR fliers. But
I'm at something of a loss to "sell" this upgrade.

What was it about flying the approach that confirmed your decision? The
vertical guidance? Something else?

- Andrew

On 8/15/2007 10:50:44 AM, Andrew Gideon wrote:

Several members of my club (not a majority, but...) have expressed a
disinterest in WAAS. Admittedly, some of these are not IFR fliers. But
I'm at something of a loss to "sell" this upgrade.

To a casual IFR pilot (one who uses it to fly to a $100 hamburger airport) or
a VFR pilot, I don't necessarily see the value in the upgrade.

For those of us who fly hard IFR in areas of the US where hard IFR is
possible without thunderstorms or heavy ice, the upgrade and the cost thereof
is much more justifiable. In my case, I fly for Angel Flight Northeast to all
kinds of airports when I am not commuting with my aircraft weekly for
business, so having the glideslope feature for either an LPV approach or even
a non-precision GPS approach adds an unquantifiable level of safety to the
flight.

--
Peter

On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 06:54:43 -0500, "Dan Luke"
wrote:


"Viperdoc" wrote:

Just did an RNAV/GPS approach today, and this again confirms the decision to
go with the WAAS upgrade.

Rumor has it that the WAAS upgrade for the pre-2007 G1000s will cost ~$15,000,
plus labor.

I'd like to have it, but if the rumor is true, I doubt I'll take the plunge.

That rumored price is also rumored not to include the likely $5k-$7k
core credit for the GIAs, making it $8k-$10k. $4k/box would almost
the same as the 430/530 upgrade after the promotion period. I don't
have a parts manual handy, but I think the comdat's that are already
installed are the same comdats as the WAAS birds, so the labor is
likely to be something like 1hr to swap the boxes and maybe 1.5 to
install the WAAS version of the new system software. Even if they're
not, it only takes .5 hours to swap one of those antenni out and RTV
around the edge. The upgrade should be a 1/2 day affair, if even.

It'll be interesting to see what's going on with the upgrade, but I
doubt they're putting much attention towards it with the AHARS issue.
Course, that's not neccessarily Cessna's labor to spin fixing, so
maybe they will get the SB out on time.

On Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:16:54 -0400, Frank Ch. Eigler wrote:


Indeed. My local avionics shop estimated more like $4000 for the whole
deal.

I was just quoted an expected maximum of $2500 (including the $1500 to
Garmin) per radio from my local shop.

[...]
Addition of a
decent terrain warning map

That same shop told me that terrain is *not* a part of the W upgrade,
though still remains an available add-on.

Much faster updates to track (maybe 5 Hz) This last one might be of use
in IMC with gyro problems.

Dunno. Digital numbers won't be readable at 5 changes per second.
Analog outputs are basically just CDI/VDI's, whose super-rapid updates
may help only during the tail end of an approach.

I think, if one is using track as a replacement for a failed DG for
example, that 5 updates a second would be quite manageable. A second
is a long time, in that sense. Say "Mississippi", for example, while
tapping your finger five times. Once you get the rhythm, it's not tough.
But I've not tried actually reading a display like this.

Also, consider that if you're spinning so fast that the ones digit is
illegible, you can still see the direction of your spin with the tens
digit. That's enough to slow the turn so as to render the ones digit
usable again (plus provide for some other benefits {8^).

- Andrew

On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 13:09:25 -0400, Andrew Gideon wrote:

That same shop told me that terrain is *not* a part of the W upgrade,
though still remains an available add-on.

I contacted Garmin on their technical support line, and was told that
terrain *is* a part of the upgrade.

- Andrew

Terrain is part of the upgrade. However, with a single unit installation,
the terrain feature is not as useful. If, for example, you're flying an
approach, you wouldn't want to be switching back and forth between the nav
page and the terrain page. (It will give an aural alert if set up)

It may be of more benefit if you fly in mountainous terrain at night, etc.
Then, the primary page might be the terrain page, rather than the nav page.

I am fortunate to have a 530/430, and use the main nav page on the 530, with
terrain or traffic displayed on the 430. This give an added measure of
situational awareness.

On Fri, 17 Aug 2007 07:11:33 -0500, Viperdoc wrote:

(It will give an aural alert if set up)

I'd thought that the 430 lacked the ability to alert via audio, and that
that was why it couldn't be TAWS certified. No? That would be a nice
added feature.

- Andrew

Andrew--

I had my 430 upgraded to a 430-W a month ago. On a short flight from
HYI (San Marcos, TX) to T82 (Fredericksburg) last Sunday, I
intentionally flew toward a tower (1,149'AGL) that lies almost
directly in that flight path. Sure enough, there was an aural warning
from the GPS, and the tower showed clearly on the screen.

Michael


On Fri, 17 Aug 2007 10:57:52 -0400, Andrew Gideon
wrote:

On Fri, 17 Aug 2007 07:11:33 -0500, Viperdoc wrote:

(It will give an aural alert if set up)

I'd thought that the 430 lacked the ability to alert via audio, and that
that was why it couldn't be TAWS certified. No? That would be a nice
added feature.

- Andrew