I doubt that the incremental cost of certifying the 430 to TSO146 is that
great when they are already doing it for the 530. The 430 and 530 are
essentially the same box with different screens. Anyway, both are supposed
to be out in the first half of '05. The real issue is when the FAA will
publish a meaningful number of LPV approaches with significantly lower
minimiums. I like the idea of vertical guidance but to actually add
capibility, the approaches need lower minimiums. Since most of the airports
that I fly into have minimiums that are defined by terrain, I'm not sure
that WAAS will mean much to my flying.

Mike
MU-2

"John R. Copeland" wrote in message
...
"Mike Rapoport" wrote in message
ink.net...

I don't know where you went to business school but, to me, it seems that
if
you have an installed base of 45,000 units, then upgrading them for $1500
each is good business. Additionally they have commited to providing an
WAAS
upgrade path for the 430 and have already demonstrated the hardware. I
don't know if airways will be part of the package but adding them is
fairly
trivial.

Mike

Yes, adding airways to the GNS-430 would be fairly trivial.
But recertifying new hardware to TSO-C146a isn't trivial,
and my point is that Garmin has the GNS-480 already certified.
I see that as reducing justification for spending money on the 430.

Upgrading the 530 to TSO-C146a capability is more certain, I think
If I were sure that 430 certification would be a low-cost spin-off benefit
of certifying the modified 530, then I'd swing over to your view, Mike.
Right now, though, I'm skeptical of that.
I'd be happy to be wrong, however.
---JRC---