thanks all ... the less i have to talk to or deal with the guvmint the better i like it...lol

Well, a week or so back I (finally) received the promised replacement SkyBeacon from uAvionix. And, got it installed in place of the unit that has produced a catalog of error messages.

uAvionix is nearly impossible to get in touch with tech help right now, and for the last several months. I left several messages, and finally wound my way through their tech help "send us a message", which requires some very specific information on the unit.

As background, I ordered a Skybeacon back in early summer of last year. I flew it and it passed initial compliance tests, and I was able to collect the FAA rebate. But, a couple months later, I was contacted by the FAA in Washington DC, and informed that my SkyBeacon was transmitting errors, and I needed to get it fixed.

I contacted uAvionix and they informed me that there was a firmware update, and that I should upload that and try again. I uploaded the update, and flew the airplane again. The PAPR report (which you should request periodically if you have ANY ADS-B unit installed) for that flight showed no errors. I contacted the FAA gent in DC, and he looked at the report and said, Good to go.

A month later, the FAA sent me an email, stating that every flight since that last one had transmitted errors, and that the FAA was turning my ADS-B "identity" off in their system. In other words, no ADS-B Out and no access to ADS-B rule airspace.

This was in November, and the "Rule" started in early January, so I'm guessing uAvionix was busy. And, getting hold of tech help was virtually impossible. I finally did get hold of one of their techies, and he told me to check the ground connection.....duh. But, he also gave me his direct number to call back.

I disassembled the wing tip, and replaced the ground connector, polished up the connection, ect, so that the ground was solid. Put it back together and flew it. 23 % failure rate in GPS location. So, back to tech help, and the techie who gave me his direct number wasn't answering. Probably on the line with someone else. Left messages, and yes, that's plural. Sent tech help emails.

Finally called Sales, and guess what? Someone answered that line......huge surprise. Of course, he couldn't be of much help, except to say that they were very busy and there'd been something of a flu epidemic in their work force.

Anyway, I continued to leave voice mails, and sent another email request for tech help. Explained the situation and suggested they send me a replacement unit (it's my understanding that uAvionix has replaced a number of the earlier units).

This all happened before Thanksgiving. Eventually, around the middle of January, I got a note that said they were sending a new unit.

uAvionix tech help insisted the problem I was having was an intermittent ground. All I can say is, the ground was very clean. I noticed on the original unit that the red flashing light, which initially flashes to let you know the unit is still initializing, was on for a LONG time. This new unit, the flashing light went out within just a few minutes. In other words, I don't think the ground was the problem, but time and more flights will tell.

So, this new unit arrived and is installed. The PAPR was clean on this flight. I'll fly it more soon and request a PAPR for each flight before I request that the FAA "turn it on" again in their system.

If you're dealing with uAvionix in the near future, be patient. They are obviously understaffed to handle tech help. I suspect that the addition of the new line of PFDs to their product line isn't helping that.

More importantly, if you have one of these units, periodically request a PAPR from the FAA. It's quick and easy, and free. Otherwise, you may wind up in the same situation I was. The FAA gentleman I spoke with was absolutely kind, polite and helpful, but if I never hear from him again, I won't be disappointed.

Your mileage may vary.

MTV

We've decided to wait a year to see what the costs of the options will become after the push for compliance is over...furthermore, I'd like Canada to make up their minds on whether or not a diverse ADSB antennae will be required. It would suck to drop 2K on a tail beacon option only to be told you can't fly the trench to AK because of a rushed decision.

Maybe this is faulty reasoning...if so, please give me your input

Mike, I hope the new Skybeacon unit works as it should.

Climbingnerd, "diversity required" or not, I don't think a Tailbeacon will be a viable choice for flying in Canada.
Everything I've read says they're gonna require 1090ES, the Tilbeacon & all the other current uAvionix units are 978UAT.

climbingnerd wrote:We've decided to wait a year to see what the costs of the options will become after the push for compliance is over...furthermore, I'd like Canada to make up their minds on whether or not a diverse ADSB antennae will be required. It would suck to drop 2K on a tail beacon option only to be told you can't fly the trench to AK because of a rushed decision.

Maybe this is faulty reasoning...if so, please give me your input

From what I've heard (rumor only), Canada intends to implement a rule similar to the US rule, in other words, it'll only be required at large airports and up high. But, it's also clear that Canada, unlike "our" FAA, isn't rushing into this program. Good for Canada.

In fact, apparently, our FAA is reaching out for feedback on converting to a satellite based system, at least in Alaska. Duh.

Don't be surprised if the US decides to change the field as well.

MTV

mtv wrote:

climbingnerd wrote:We've decided to wait a year to see what the costs of the options will become after the push for compliance is over...furthermore, I'd like Canada to make up their minds on whether or not a diverse ADSB antennae will be required. It would suck to drop 2K on a tail beacon option only to be told you can't fly the trench to AK because of a rushed decision.

Maybe this is faulty reasoning...if so, please give me your input

From what I've heard (rumor only), Canada intends to implement a rule similar to the US rule, in other words, it'll only be required at large airports and up high. But, it's also clear that Canada, unlike "our" FAA, isn't rushing into this program. Good for Canada.

In fact, apparently, our FAA is reaching out for feedback on converting to a satellite based system, at least in Alaska. Duh.

Don't be surprised if the US decides to change the field as well.

MTV

What he said.

If I wasn’t based in a class C I’d be waiting.

uAvionix it’s beta testing a 1090ES tailBeacon. I saw a picture that looked like it has diversity.

I bet there’ll be other solutions like that as Canada’s deadline gets closer.

Looks like a 1090 tailbeacon is getting closer.

https://uavionix.com/products/tailbeaconx/

daedaluscan wrote:Looks like a 1090 tailbeacon is getting closer.

https://uavionix.com/products/tailbeaconx/

Looks like that’s an engineer transponder, not just ADSB antenna. Interesting

I now have several flights with the replacement SkyBeacon, and it has passed every flight. I’m still requesting a PAPR after every flight, which is easy and no cost.

I sent an email to the FAA gent in DC and asked if I could get my unit turned back on in the system. He looked PAPRs for recent flights and said good to go.

Time will tell.

MTV

daedaluscan wrote:Looks like a 1090 tailbeacon is getting closer.

https://uavionix.com/products/tailbeaconx/

1090ES, with diversity, mode S transponder incorporated.
All in one, slick. uAvionix is proving pretty innovative with their stuff.
Looks like this one needs a suitable gizmo on the panel to manipulate transponder,
either an AV20/AV30 or a remote txp controller.

hotrod180 wrote:

daedaluscan wrote:Looks like a 1090 tailbeacon is getting closer.

https://uavionix.com/products/tailbeaconx/

1090ES, with diversity, mode S transponder incorporated.
All in one, slick. uAvionix is proving pretty innovative with their stuff.
Looks like this one needs a suitable gizmo on the panel to manipulate transponder,
either an AV20/AV30 or a remote txp controller.

Its definitely pricier than a UAT install, but I really like how it gets another item off the dash. I was looking at the AV-30 for a potential panel upgrade in the future - it looks a lot better now that it can control a 1090 transponder!