Return-Path: Sender: (Marvin Kaye) To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Wed, 08 Sep 2004 11:00:09 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from [66.126.157.183] (HELO D2A) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.2.1) with SMTP id 402125; Wed, 08 Sep 2004 10:39:59 -0400 X-Original-Message-ID: <000d01c495b1$e19b2e10$0f02a8c0@D2A> From: "Kirk" X-Original-To: Subject: [LML] Chelton - Stormscope problem X-Original-Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2004 07:41:08 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_000A_01C49577.34496A90" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.2180 Disposition-Notification-To: "Kirk" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_000A_01C49577.34496A90 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable If anyone with a L-3 Stormscope interfaced to their Chelton is = experiencing the problems or issues noted by Hal Woodruff or Jeff = Edwards, please contact your panel builder or qualified avionics shop to = discuss the resolution. After speaking with the shop that built Jeff = Edwards panel yesterday, we've learned that the stormscope has been = installed improperly. Although in-flight operation should be correct in = this configuration, all maintenance and testing modes will be disabled. = The installation of the L-3 stormscope to the Chelton EFIS was tested = and approved by L-3 at their testing facility by their engineers and has = been approved and certified by the FAA as well as the new 5.0A software = that is currently being distributed. Below is an explaination from = Robert Durall, Manager of Chelton Flight Systems Avionics Dept: "The Chelton EFIS is designed to be the primary controller for the L-3 = Stormscope computer. In this mode, all heading information and mode = control are provided by the EFIS to allow the strike information to sync = with the EFIS display. The EFIS sends heading information from the AHRS = to the Stormscope computer first, then if there is no AHRS data, the GPS = Track from the GPS receiver. =20 A number of other GPS receivers (such as the Garmin GPS 430/530) send a = heading of 0 degrees when the ground speed calculated from the GPS is = below a specific value. This reduces the errors induced due to = Selective Availability on the GPS receiver when the aircraft is setting = on the ground. =20 The difference between the heading from the EFIS and the GPS Track from = the external GPS receiver can vary greatly and in some cases = irratically. This is normal. =20 Chelton Technical Support requires that the Stromscope be controlled = directly from the EFIS rather than an external GPS receiver. In this = installation, the EFIS provides every maintenance function for the = computer and can place the computer in every mode of operation. =20 If the aircraft contains both the Chelton EFIS and another GPS source = that outputs a heading of 0 degrees when on the ground (such as the = Garmin 430/530), the way to test both systems correctly is to place the = PFD of the EFIS into the Ground Maintenance mode then select the WX-500 = Maintenance Utility. In this mode, the EFIS will output a 0 degree = heading reference to the Stromscope and both the EFIS and the external = GPS receiver will see the test strike data at the same position." The technician from L3 that was assisting with stormscope problems at = the Lancair Fly-In SHOULD have confirmed that the stormscope had been = installed and wired properly rather than pointing to an improper = interface. Had he researched his display approval list and installation = documents, it would be reasonable to at least question the installation = IMO. =20 If you want to test your stormscope through your Chelton to verify = proper operation, you can utilize the WX-500 maintenance utility built = into your system. Insert your Smartmedia Card, power up your system, = and select the utility. If you suspect your system is improperly wired, please contact your = authorized avionics shop asap. Chelton Flight Systems and Direct-To Avionics is committed to providing = the finest navigation equipment available (at any price). Nobody else = in the aviation industry can provide a more reliable EFIS platform with = certified level software. This is just one example of why certified = software is beneficial to experimental aircraft pilots. =20 Kirk Hammersmith President Direct-To Avionics, LLC 541.504.8300 v 775.416.3222 f www.direct2avionics.com=20 ------=_NextPart_000_000A_01C49577.34496A90 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
If anyone with a L-3 Stormscope interfaced to their Chelton is = experiencing=20 the problems or issues noted by Hal Woodruff or Jeff Edwards, please = contact=20 your panel builder or qualified avionics shop to discuss the = resolution. =20 After speaking with the shop that built Jeff Edwards panel yesterday, = we've=20 learned that the stormscope has been installed improperly.  = Although=20 in-flight operation should be correct in this configuration, all = maintenance and=20 testing modes will be disabled.  The installation of the L-3 = stormscope to=20 the Chelton EFIS was tested and approved by L-3 at their testing = facility by=20 their engineers and has been approved and certified by the FAA as well = as the=20 new 5.0A software that is currently being distributed.  Below is an = explaination from Robert Durall, Manager of Chelton Flight Systems = Avionics=20 Dept:
 
"The Chelton = EFIS is=20 designed to be the primary controller for the L-3 Stormscope computer. =  In this mode, all heading = information and=20 mode control are provided by the EFIS to allow the strike information to = sync=20 with the EFIS display.  The EFIS sends heading information from the = AHRS to the=20 Stormscope computer first, then if there is no AHRS data, the GPS Track = from the=20 GPS receiver. 

A number of = other GPS=20 receivers (such as the Garmin GPS 430/530) send a heading of 0 degrees = when the=20 ground speed calculated from the GPS is below a specific value.  = This=20 reduces the errors induced due to Selective Availability on the GPS = receiver=20 when the aircraft is setting on the ground.  =

The = difference between=20 the heading from the EFIS and the GPS Track from the external GPS = receiver can=20 vary greatly and in some cases irratically.  This is normal. =20

Chelton = Technical=20 Support requires that the Stromscope be controlled directly from the = EFIS rather=20 than an external GPS receiver.  In this installation, the EFIS = provides=20 every maintenance function for the computer and can place the computer = in every=20 mode of operation. 

If the = aircraft=20 contains both the Chelton EFIS and another GPS source that outputs a = heading of=20 0 degrees when on the ground (such as the Garmin 430/530), the way to = test both=20 systems correctly is to place the PFD of the EFIS into the Ground = Maintenance=20 mode then select the WX-500 Maintenance Utility.  In this mode, the = EFIS=20 will output a 0 degree heading reference to the Stromscope and both the = EFIS and=20 the external GPS receiver will see the test strike data at the same=20 position."

The technician from L3 that was assisting with = stormscope=20 problems at the Lancair Fly-In SHOULD have confirmed that the stormscope = had=20 been installed and wired properly rather than pointing to an improper=20 interface.  Had he researched his display approval list and = installation=20 documents, it would be reasonable to at least question the installation=20 IMO. 

If you want to test your stormscope through your = Chelton to=20 verify proper operation, you can utilize the WX-500 maintenance utility = built=20 into your system.  Insert your Smartmedia Card, power up your = system, and=20 select the utility.

If you suspect your system is improperly wired, = please=20 contact your authorized avionics shop asap.

Chelton Flight Systems and Direct-To Avionics is = committed to=20 providing the finest navigation equipment available (at any = price).  Nobody=20 else in the aviation industry can provide a more reliable EFIS platform = with=20 certified level software.  This is just one example of why = certified=20 software is beneficial to experimental aircraft pilots. 

Kirk Hammersmith
President
Direct-To = Avionics,=20 LLC
541.504.8300 v
775.416.3222 f
www.direct2avionics.com =

 

 
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