Michigan Aviation6150 HIGHLAND RD + WATERFORD, MI 48327
Michigan Aviation
HOME  |   ABOUT US  |   SERVICES  |   AIRPORT INFORMATION  |   NEWS  |   FBO FUEL PRICE  |   USED EQUIPMENT  |   CONTACT US

NEWS
Home  |  Does It Matter  |  Static Wicks
24 month Certs / RVSM  |  WAAS Upgrades


WAAS Upgrades

GARMIN GNS430/530 WAAS UPGRADE 2/2/2007:

Garmin has released a marketing memo stating the WAAS upgrade program has begun. Michian Aviation will be contacting all are customers who have requested this upgrade to set up shop dates.
If you plan to upgrade your non WAAS 430 or 530 unit but have not contacted us, please do so now. Thank you. Garmin has released a marketing memo stating they will begin to accept units for WAAS upgrade the week of Feb 9,2007. Garmin plans to turn a unit around within 3 days of arrival at the Garmin facility.

Garmin has announced that they will begin the WAAS upgrade program for older (non WAAS) GNS400 and 500 series units. The effected units would be GNS400 and 500 series units. There has been some confusion on exactly what changes need to be made to an older non-WAAS GNS400/500 installation to make it WAAS capable. This document is a summary of the changes that will need to be made. Customers can refer to Garmin document 190-00357-02 for additional information.

Basic overview of the WAAS upgrade process:

  • The Aircraft owner will need to contact Michigan Aviation as soon as possible so we can submit your name, tail #, and unit serial number to Garmin. Garmin will provide us with an RMA number that will be used to schedule and track the factory upgrade.

  • The legacy 400/500 unit will be removed from the customer's aircraft and returned to Garmin for upgrade. Garmin will replace/modify the GPS receiver and other internal circuitry then return the unit to us with a new GPS antenna.

  • In general, the existing tray and wiring of the older non WAAS 400/500 units are pin compatible with the new WAAS units (no changes necessary to the basic wiring except for some autopilots)

  • The existing Garmin GPS antenna installed on the aircraft will be removed and replaced with the new Garmin WAAS GPS antenna supplied by Garmin.

  • The existing antenna coax that runs from GNS400/500 tray to the GPS may require replacement (see details below).

  • A GPS source selection and GPS navigation annunciator may need to be installed (see below)

  • The autopilot or EFIS interface wiring may require modification (see below)
  • A new FAA 337 form and POH supplement may be required to reflect the upgrade and give operational guidance to the pilot. The WAAS 400/500 units will have an AML (FAA approved airframe list) from Garmin and most installations/upgrades should not require an FAA field approval.

  • Dual 500/400 series installations issues: If your aircraft has an existing dual Garmin installation (IE 530/430, 430/430, etc..), the crossfill function will not work unless both units have been upgraded to WAAS. A WAAS upgraded 400/500 will not crossfill to and older non-WAAS 400/500 series unit. See Garmin manual 190-00356-02 section 4.6.1.1.

  • The existing warranty on a 400/500 series units that is sent to Garmin for upgrade, will not be changed or extended after the WAAS upgrade. That is to say, a GPS unit that is out of warranty will not get a new factory warranty after being upgraded to WAAS. Garmin will only warranty the work that was done to upgrade the unit to WAAS.

  • Garmin has announced a list price of $2999.00 for the unit upgrade and new WAAS antenna. In addition to this factory charge, there will be a labor change to modify the aircraft. This labor charge will vary by aircraft depending on the existing configuration (see below). Michigan Avionics estimates the upgrade to run $3,500.00 (includes factory upgrade cost and parts and labor) for non-pressurized aircraft that do not require the GPS coax to be replaced and do not require an external annunciator to be installed.
 
Site Hosted By...Controller.com ®
© Copyright by Sandhills Publishing Company 2010. All rights reserved. Reproduction of material appearing on this Web site is strictly prohibited without written permission. Controller, Executive Controller, and Charter Hub are registered trademarks of Sandhills Publishing Company.