News
Avidyne and Southern Star Avionics receive approval for single PFD retrofit for 90-series King Airs

May 15, 2008, Lincoln, MA – Avidyne Corporation and Southern Star Avionics have been advised by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that their jointly-developed single-PFD integrated flight deck system for the King Air 90-series has been added to its Approved Model List (AML).  The two companies announced in March that they were pursuing a Supplemental Type Certificate which would apply to 90A through 90E series King Airs.
 
This, package, which integrates the Envision system with an S-TEC 65X autopilot, is not the only project on which the two companies have collaborated.  Avidyne and Southern Star have also certified Envision with an STEC 55X autopilot in Cessna 400-Series aircraft, and collaborated on an EXP5000 PFD retrofit for legacy Cirrus airplanes. 

With this approval, Avidyne can now offer single-PFD and dual-PFD Envision options on the King Air 90-Series aircraft.  Previously, Avidyne and S-TEC certified a dual-PFD, single MFD Envision configuration with an S-TEC 2100 autopilot for 200-Series and 90-Series King Airs. 

“This single-PFD Envision certification provides an even more affordable retrofit option for the single-pilot 90-series King Air owner looking to move up to a big-glass instrument package,” said Tom Harper, Avidyne’s Director of Marketing. “Avidyne now offers full-featured Envision retrofit solutions to meet the specific mission and budgetary requirements of single-engine piston aircraft up through RVSM-capable turbine-class aircraft.”

“Our engineering team and our partners at Southern Star Avionics did a terrific job in getting this project completed in relatively short order,” said Avidyne Product Manager, Matt Nuffort. “Together, we were able to accomplish this project in a matter of weeks from the time of our joint announcement in late March, and we can begin retrofitting customer aircraft immediately.”

Based on the Avidyne Entegra integrated flight deck for new aircraft, Envision extends Avidyne’s Flying Made Simple™ strategy to legacy general aviation aircraft, making it possible for them to operate more safely and simply with advanced yet intuitive cockpit technology. 

Pricing and Availability
Retail pricing for the single-PFD Envision integrated flight deck for King Air 90 A, B, C, and E Series aircraft begins at $34,995 for the EXP5000 PFD including STC Kit.  Options are available for the radar-capable EX5000 or EX500 MFD, the dual-antenna TAS600 traffic advisory system, MLB700 broadcast datalink weather, and TWX670 Tactical Lightning Detection. For option pricing or for more information, contact Avidyne at 1-800-AVIDYNE, visit www.avidyne.com , or contact Southern Star Avionics at 1-888-855-9969.