Avidyne upgrades Vantage 12 software

Previously, the Vantage 12 display system was only compatible with Avidyne IFD navigators. Vantage software upgrade 12.1 unlocks this new capability. “This is a big deal because a lot of these aircraft still fly with legacy Garmin GNS navigators, in some cases they have been updated to IFDs, in some cases they’ve been updated to GTNs, so the fleet is not homogeneous,” said Fabrice Kunzi, president of Avidyne. “Breaking this dependency allows the flexibility for the owners of these aircraft to install a Vantage 12 display system.”

Avidyne also introduced the DFC110 autopilot with vertical navigation. The DFC110 is a slide-in replacement for DFC90 and S-TEC 55 autopilots, and brings coupled VNAV capability to the Vantage 12 system.

The Vantage software update also enables pilots to select approach minimums on the primary flight display, responding to a request made by customers.

“We want to provide flexibility to the owners and the pilots that fly Avidyne equipment, [who] oftentimes don’t have the largest flight deck,” said Kunzi. “This provides flexibility to the owners not just within the Avidyne ecosystem, but within the entire avionics landscape, and allows a pilot to design a panel in a way that they want to fly their aircraft.”