We have a G900X with a
TruTrak Sorcerer auto pilot in our Lancair 4P TSIO 550B. We have had Advantage
Avionics in Chino, California install and update the G900X and they have done a
great job. However, the updates we receive from Garmin are the most perplexing
software we have ever encountered. For some reason Garmin has never sent out
any information on any revision and what the updates contain or how the
revision will change or affect the aircraft. We started with software version
5, then 8, and are now running 10. None of the software is user configurable
which is a real problem. We have had numerous conversations with Tim Larberg
who has always been very helpful in every way he can but here is the real
problem. Every suggestion we make to improve the software falls on deaf ears.
We started with a fuel
flow annunciator and alarm that was set to high so every time you reduced power
it would alarm usually while taxing and of course when ground or tower was
trying to talk to you. Garmin fixed that problem but not without some
resistance. We just upgraded from version 8 to 10 to take advantage of a fully
integrated auto pilot, a profile flight view, and some other upgrades. But now
we have other problems. First we have a pathway error Garmin can't figure out
and has no idea where it came from. Advantage Avionics had to reload version 10
several times before it started to work correctly but with the pathway error
still present. Second, the altitude entered into the G900X is always plus one
foot in the Sorcerer. Example 7000 in G900X 7001 in Sorcerer. After talking to
Lucas at TruTrak he indicated that it was a side effect of the information that
comes over the ARINC data lines to the Sorcerer from the G900X. Basically it is
a rounded up bit. TruTrak was going to fix it but then decided it was a good
indicator that altitude data was being received from an external source. Third,
the first time I went to LOP using the GAMI big pull and fuel flow indicator
the engine quit. Yes, I said quit. There is a big lag in the indicated and real
fuel flow creating a safety issue. I knew immediately something was changed in
the software. After talking to Garmin about the problem Garmin admitted they
changed the software filter on the fuel flow but again didn’t let anyone know.
We have put up with the fuel quantity being defaulted at 110 gallons when we
have a 90 gallon total but now Garmin has said the future updates will be
defaulted to 200 gallons.
So what has Garmin to
say about this? "It is what it is". What kind of attitude is this to
take? This is no way to treat loyal customers who have paid top dollar for an
operating system. So for now we will be returning to version 8, losing out on
an integrated auto pilot, profile flight view, and other good upgrades with
some not so good. Garmin had the right idea when they came up with the G900X
for the experimental market but have become so user unfriendly we question
whether we will be installing them in our next experimental.
Suggestions:
1.
Don’t delete user
settings every time we do a software update. This can create an unsafe
environment not to mention all the work of re-entering settings.
MFD USER SETTINGS.
Map Setup page. There are
thirteen items on this page alone.
Soft Keys. Need to enter
traffic, Nexrad or terrain, etc.
Navigation status bar has
four configurable fields.
Any scheduled events such
as switching fuel tanks, oil changes, etc.
PFD USER SETTINGS
Tim/Ref. There are six
items here.
Soft Keys. There are ten
items here.
Don't forget all Com/Nav
volumes default to 9.6%.
2. A/P altitude delay
from the G900X to the Sorcerer. Seems there is a 3-5 second delay of
information. Would have helped if we knew about this in a revision letter.
3. TSIO 550E is only
“550” series engine to choose from. Covers most of the engines similarities but
doesn’t cover the slight differences.
4. Should be able to
configure all engine parameters per aircraft. This only makes sense.
5. List of software
revisions. Let us know what we are to expect before we load new software using
Installation bulletins/advisory memos.
6. Configurable airframe
specs (fuel quantity, airspeeds, etc.)
7. Splash Screen for
Lancair.
8. Fuel Flow lags. This
is just plain dangerous. The instrument should be accurate as it was in version
8.
9. A/P altitude is one
foot high on Sorcerer readout. This is a TruTrac error/indicator of information
being transferred.
We would appreciate any
positive or negative input from anyone who uses a G900X. Please include your
type of aircraft, auto pilot and engine type. Send it to the email address
below and we will add it to our letter to Garmin.
Fly Safe,
Christopher J. Alberti
KNYL AOPA ASN Volunteer
N441JH Lancair 4P Hanger C3
President/CEO
Starlite Aviation Technologies LLC
1963 S. 39th Drive
Yuma, Arizona 85364
Phone: 928-581-2383
Fax: 928-329-6488
Email: starliteaviation@yahoo.com
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