FAA certifies uAvionix AV-30-C

The AV-30-C was conceived by avionics startup AeroVonics, founded by Jeff Bethel in Albuquerque, New Mexico. AeroVonics introduced its AV-20-S at EAA AirVenture 2018, where EAA named the company a 2018 Innovation Showcase winner. The two-inch-diameter, self-contained multifunction display was approved in March 2019 under the FAA’s Non-Required Safety Enhancing Equipment (NORSEE) process, allowing installation as a minor alteration in many general aviation aircraft. uAvionix purchased AeroVonics in October 2019.

“uAvionix is creating avionics with fundamental engineering advantages,” said Ryan Braun, the company’s chief operating officer. “These are beautiful, no-compromise certified avionics designed to deliver an affordable total cost of ownership. The AV-30-C provides an innovative, probeless angle-of-attack and non-slaved directional gyro, both designed to dramatically lower the cost of installation without compromising performance. Where other avionics seem designed to be replaced, the AV-30-C will get better with age. We’re actively developing ADS-B In, electronic flight bag, transponder, and autopilot integrations to ensure AV-30-C becomes an indispensable instrument for every panel.”

uAvionix said the AV-30-C can be installed as either an attitude indicator or directional gyro and that it adds a suite of in-flight information to the panel right out of the box—including a probeless angle of attack indicator, baro-corrected altitude, indicated/vertical/true airspeed, non-slaved heading, bus voltage, G load, and GPS navigational data. The company said additional features will be announced.

By installing two units, one as an attitude indicator and another as a directional gyro, uAvionix said the aircraft’s vacuum pump system can be removed, providing the additional benefit of a fully digital primary instrument cluster. The AV-30-C fits in a 3.125-inch round instrument slot and because it mounts from behind the panel, the panel’s classic look can be preserved.

The AV-30-C STC allows installation in FAR Part 23 Class 1 and Class 2 aircraft—singles and twins weighing less than 6,000 pounds—that are included on the accompanying approved model list. The full AML, available online, includes 635 aircraft models from Cessna, Beechcraft, Mooney, Piper, and other manufacturers.

In addition, the AV-30-C can double as the control interface for uAvionix’s tailBeaconX, the company’s tail-mounted 1090-MHz ADS-B Out transponder that is pending FAA certification. It also will support third-party autopilot systems via the APA-MINI adapter, expected in early 2021, interfacing the AV-30’s heading bug with legacy autopilots.

The AV-30-C can be purchased online or from authorized resellers for $1,995, plus applicable tax and shipping.