As a new Cirrus SR22 G2 (with Avidyne Entegra) owner, I’ve read this and other threads about the Avidyne PFD/MFD suite with keen interest since I have a decision to make. Noted the lawyers arguing (no offense intended!), but for me it is an economics decision. Unfortunately I’m lacking data and searching for it. Is there a known MTBF for the Avidyne 5000s? Or is there a thread that you know about which has any informal or subjective assessment of the failure rates or MTBFs?
It appears to me that the Ext Warranty (Aeroflex) plan good be a very good deal or not. If the cost to repair is $7000 and the MTBF is four years then over a six year ownership you’d likely have 1.5 failures at 7k ea for a probabilistic cost of 10.5k; if you buy the plan you pay only 3k + 3k (1k/yr for 4 yrs) for a total of 6k…saving 4.5k. But if the MTBF is eight years then with the plan you pay the 6k but avoid only the 75% probabilistic cost of ~5k (yes, I fully realize that IF it occurs it won’t be 75% but the whole 7k, but statistically the probability times the cost works that way…I should have picked different timeframes but I’m not going to retype this!!).
I think you see my dilemma - making the decision to pay for the warranty instead of “self insuring” and accepting a possible bill of 7k is difficult without data on the MTBF. If anyone has data or even longtime COPA experience based anecdotal failure rates, I’d really appreciate that info.
On a more positive note, I completed my embark program and flew several times here in the Houston area in 545CB…a most pleasant experience. Maybe I should just select “OFF” on the computer and fly more, type less, and hope the dang PFD works good like it did today.
To the best of my knowledge, this data has not been published. One thing you have to remember is that MTBF applies to the whole population. You cannot extrapolate it to one system. Your PFD may fail tomorrow or 10 years later, no matter what the MTBF is.
Also remember that you are flying 15 year old electronics. How many electronic gadgets in your home are 15 years old? None, in my case.
Aeroflex gives peace of mind. This is why I am happy to pay for it. Don’t forget to ask for 6 months of additional coverage for COPA members for free.
Great points - especially the part about the age of electronics. Hence why I’m thinking that the MTBF would be increasing significantly over the next few years, making the warranty a good idea. Did not know about the +6 month thing. Thanks for replying, sir!
“Digital picture frames (two of them); TV; two crock pots; blender; stove; microwave…
Many more than people think”
Completely True. I bet we all have quite a few old electronics laying about.
A better comparison than those items is a PC. How many of us have a PC that is almost 20 years old? Not still functional and in storage but in daily use. Not many I bet.
These are computers and do not have the luxury of a stable power source in a climate controlled environment.
We will never get the same MTBF out of our stuff than those computers.
I signed it too. Yeah, its a no brainer because what choice do you have otherwise…As I said, i did so begrudgingly and before I knew Garmin is offering a viable alternative…
Can you think of one other case where a customer in a retail commercial setting is forced to sign an indemnity?
No integration required with the avionics. No pulling the avionics stack - just reach under the stack and unscrew the transponder coax.
Easy to wire up. Low current draw (use the same circuit breaker as the transponder).
Dirt simple programming (usb cable and windows laptop).
Waas antenna can be mounted inside the fuselage (behind the baggage top window). No drilling or composite work (such as adding a ground mesh/foil to the composite).
Complete stand alone system (requires a mode c transponder output).
No switches required. It gets the squawk code automatically from the transponder.
It has the anonymous mode, if you want it (add one switch).
Reliable. Works perfectly.
Does not require an avionics shop to install it. Just a mechanic. Or yourself with a mechanic’s oversight.
Install time is a few days (if you are slow).
A failure could be quickly diagnosed and the bad part swapped out. No messing with your avionics.
It all can be removed at a later date when better stuff comes out (if ever you want to upgrade).
That’s too bad. I renewed mine a few months ago, and got the extra 6 months. I think you should still appeal. They are working on a new pricing, so I would suggest holding off until the new pricelist is published.
I actually embraced the idea of a small company trying to limit their legal costs. I thought this might help them compete with Garmin. Where Avidyne lost me was when I did not feel they were passing on this savings to their customer base. I would have expected Avydine to be the “good guys” and not charge $1200 for a battery when my last 430 (apples to oranges?) battery change was under $200 (by local shop). This and excessive repair costs not under warranty lost me as I felt they just did not care or needed the money so bad to stay afloat. My recent “dream panel” purchase went to a Garmin 750/650 as a result.
I really hope their new repair pricing structure can change my perceptions over time.
While we defer to reading the complete set of terms of our AeroPlan agreement, the signer would take responsibility for the waiver, release, and indemnification of Avidyne if, and only if, in summary, the National Transportation Safety Board determines that Avidyne product was not the probable cause of the accident.
Additionally, the indemnification is not uncommon in our industry. While some companies may add it to the end-user license agreement or terms of service (see example links below), Avidyne has taken the approach of giving our customers an option of signing the indemnification as part of the extended warranty in exchange for a reduction in repair cost.