Hi, just bought an Arrow for my first. Spent 20 + years in the Air Force flying F-15s, so single pilot IFR is no bigey. My Arrow is skimpy at IFR, but in thinking of upgrades, I find it silly that a GNS 430W, can't upload a flight plan via card reader from a PC flight plan software, can't show Victor routes, has a ridiculous single pilot workload to make changes in IMC, and yet your looking at the screen size of a business card!
I want a panel mounted system that is certified, but is this all that is out there right now?? Even a 530 doesn't cut it with me for the same reasons. I stopped by the EKP IV headquarters down the street from me last week and felt it had some superiority to the Garmin, but alas, can never be certified.
I feel that a Garmin is way over priced, has little competition, and with Jeppison as the only upgrade (again pricey), what can a person do???
I'm very disappointed at cost and capability, can someone enlighten me??
I think you need to talk to the FAA about the lack of some of the features, not Garmin. My understanding is that no certified GPS unit will allow uploads of a flight plan from (non-certified) PC software. You can't even upload a flightplan from a handheld VFR-only GPS unit to the panel mount. This is by FAA ruling.
I understand that the Garmin-UPSAT panel mount unit was well liked by IFR folks, but I don't think Garmin sells it anymore. You might also look at a G600, but that is an expensive addition to an Arrow.
I think Steve sums it up well. I suspect that you will have to adjust to other compromises as well in your Arrow coming down from an F-15. At least it's yours!
Garmin makes an MFD, the GMX-200, that has a pretty good display and will display IFR airways and waypoints (or VFR or custom). It has to be driven by a flight plan engine, but with a 430W driving it, as I have in my Arrow, it works well. Yes, you need to program the 430-W, and reprogram it while bouncing around, but the 430-W is really neat on the approach. You can watch the aircraft on the MX-200 superimposed on the Jep chart, and the 430 will drive the needles as well as alert you of turns early, countdown to turn and then turn as it follows the approach. With the WAAS on board, you can fly the ILS crosshairs to the ground. Add a GDL-69 (XM radio weather) or a GDL-90 (ADS-B/TIS-B traffic, and FIS-B flight infomration and weather) and you get weather text and graphics, add a 330 transponder (or use the GDL-90) for traffic, and you see traffic on the screen that you never knew was there, but it is! All of this, the moving map especially, makes IFR so easy, no more bouncing with charts, rulers, pencils, and center both VOR needles to find your location. Just look at the map and "you are here and going there".
I have a GNS 480 in my Arrow that Garmin recently discontinued. It has the capability of displaying airways, WAAS (in fact this was the first unit WAAS capable), and the interface is friendly especially with the flight planning features. It doesn't, however, have the capability to upload a flight plan. You essentially have to enter your flight plan directly into the unit which is easy. It is also easy to amend any changes while enroute. The display is larger than the 430 but smaller than the 530. I'm unsure if their are any new units still floating around.
You can add to the list of complaints the exorbitant prices of an autopilot. I can purchase a Trio Avionics autopilot for 1/10th the prices of an FAA approved autopilot. (Not including installation of course.
My next plane will definitely be an experimental, they're so much more affordable than factory built and history has shown they have a comparable accident rate.
Hi and Thanks for the posts, I think I'll just fix the broken ADF, improve the DME's lock on range and stick with the Garmin 250XL (VFR) already in the panel. I may get a True Flight or EKP 4 just for weather and situational awareness, until the panel mounts get better. I still am disappointed with what is available, but spending 20-25 thousand for a kick-butt IFR panel just is too expensive. I can't help but think there will be more competitors in the future, and displays like the Avidyne are so brilliant for single pilot cockpits, that the future has to be brighter.
1.) Get rid of the ADF. It's a boat anchor. Unless you're doing a lot of flying in northern Canada and Alaska.
2.) Get rid of the Garmin 250, It's VFR only. For a simple, inexpensive, IFR-certified GPS, put in a Bendix-King KLN-89B. It's old technology, but the parts will run you $1200 plus the installation, and you'll be /G for IFR operations. I have an -89B in my Turbo Arrow, and while it's definitely not as user-friendly as a 430, it does the job.
3.) Get a Garmin 396 for moving map and inflight weather. You can get 'em used for $1400. No install costs, naturally.
4.) When you're flying /G, as I always do, I hardly ever spend any time on airways. Most controllers will clear you GPS direct (unless you're in the Northeast corridor or Chicago, then fuggedaboudit.). So while the lack of airway functionality on the 530/430 series is definitely not a good thing, I find it hasn't really affected my flying (I teach a lot in 530/430/G1000-equipped aircraft).
Anyhow, the above suggestion is about the cheapest way I can think of to add /G IFR GPS capability to your aircraft, plus inflight weather and moving map.
I wouldn't get rid of the 250XL. It's a great GPS/Comm, and it will serve nicely as a backup unit if you decide later to install an IFR Certified GPS/Comm. A 300XL/250XL panel would be pretty nice for a low cost /G Arrow...
