FAA approved fli

[2066]

I’ve had the SkyBeacon and the SkySensor installed for a while and both work pretty good. ( the skysensor is installed as a navigation light/strobe)There’s been a couple of software updates for both but were fairly easy to do. The SkyBeacon can be configured for “anonymous” on startup with the app, but is not reconfigurable in the air.

Thanks for that info./update, Steve -- utilizing the skySensor sure seems like a logical "balance". What are you using for your "in" receiver? Does the skySensor provide solid reception? ...kinda related, when I purchased the Ifly740b @ SNF a few years back there was an option to buy uAvionix's "Ping Buddy"* for a dual band sensor. Works great. Unfortunately (IMO) uAvionix stopped making them soon thereafter, so they're seldom available...except used, of course. About the size of a quarter, it's an amazing little piece of equipment. If it ever fails, though, I'd thought that the skySensor would be a good answer in that it doesn't require "sticking" somewhere in the cockpit, is hardwired & doesn't require fiddling with.

PING BUDDY FOR IFLY 740B.jpg (44.12 KiB) Viewed 3432 times

Mac

[6930]

I had a Tailbeacon installed since last December and after months of chasing down NIC and mode 3a failures I just could not get consistent pass results. I tried a replacement unit that UAvionix sent...no luck. Tried to adjust the threshold setting time and time again...no luck. Did the firmware update, tried it all again...no luck. I tried tests from airports with for sure solid radar coverage, still no luck. Results were flaky. Some flights were good, some not.

I finally got the dreaded letter from the FAA...45 days to fix it or suffer the consequences (shot down?).

Brought the plane to DeKalb Avionics...ground test was great. He checked the ground connection...good (it was hard wired to the tailpost). Flew home from DeKalb right after the ground check, PAPR test failed.

Nothing worked. I was going absolutely nuts. The consensus between the avionics people I talked to and UAvionix was that I had some electrical noise issue that interfered with the Tailbeacon’s ability to communicate with the transponder. Transponder itself was working perfectly, by the way.

In the end, i replaced the Tailbeacon with the Stratus ESG unit. They had a $1,000 rebate for the Tailbeacon plus $200 for the old transponder. The ESG system works perfectly.

The UAvionix people were great. They spent a lot of time trying to help and did not hesitated to send me a replacement Unit to try. For some reason, my airplane just did not like the Tailbeacon.

Mike

[2066]

Wow, Mike -- what a frustrating experience! Had their been a clue early on RE electrical interference it might(?) have been practical to chase that a bit, but I can imagine just how "whatever it takes" ready you were to solve now and move on. Obviously you chose a very good, proven product for replacement with the Stratus ESG. An old friend was very involved with beta testing for uAvionix on both the skyBeacon and the tailBeacon & I know that they worked very hard to identify & eliminate bugs while retaining functionality -- that seemed to be quite a focus & balancing act for their techies. While the "beacon" didn't work out on your ship, it's great to hear that uAvionix's famous customer-friendliness continues to shine. Thanks for sharing. Mac

[a64pilot]

Part of why I will eventually go there is my Garmin doesn’t display the class B 30 NM ring.

I don’t see why swapping a tail beacon from one aircraft to another would be an issue, I’ve seen many avionics that were regularly swapped, it’s just avionics, and like a radio can be swapped by simple means. It does just twist lock in doesn’t it? Assuming you can get another locking ring, otherwise you have to pull two screws.

[6339]

Mac, I use a gen 5 iPad with ForeFlight for the SkySensor ADSB in and it works pretty consistently. I fly under the 30 mile Tamps class B airspace a lot and have had no problems, but once in a while the WiFi will drop out for 10 seconds or so.

Jody, you are correct about switching the tail beacon on numerous aircraft...we’ve done it a couple times. The sticky part is that in order for the unit to work it has to be configured to the aircraft via the Uavionix app using the IACO number and the serial number of the unit. Don’t know how many times you can do that without the FAA radar flagging it.

[6930]

Hi Mac,

Yes...it was really frustrating. But, as we both noted the UAvionix people were really great. They took ownership of my problem and really tried to help me out. Just one of those things, I suppose.

I’m just glad it has been resolved....though I ended up spending a lot more than I would have liked.

Mike

[2066]

Mike wrote: "... I ended up spending a lot more than I would have liked."

I sure understand that, Mike. Looking back over 36+ years of ownership I don't recall a single "upgrade" that didn't mean spending a LOT more than I would have liked . I'm often reminded of the old saying..."if God had intended us to fly He would have given us more money" . Mac

[6930]

Mike wrote: "... I ended up spending a lot more than I would have liked."

I sure understand that, Mike. Looking back over 36+ years of ownership I don't recall a single "upgrade" that didn't mean spending a LOT more than I would have liked . I'm often reminded of the old saying..."if God had intended us to fly He would have given us more money" . Mac

[a64pilot]

Thanks,
Sure leaves out a lot doesn’t it

Yes it does! There is also a Operations Manual in the library that has much more information but to my knowledge, it is not a required document to be kept in the airplane, only the AFM.

https://cessna120140.com/wp-content/upl ... 20-140.pdf

I forgot that my own AFM is marked with a Tentative Approval. Per the TCDS, it is acceptable for aircraft up to and including the 1947 model and I also noticed it actually has more info than the Final version. I am attaching it here it case it helps. Mine was from April of 47 and the final was in March of 48 with 2 different approvers as well.

can you scan those into a.pdf so I can print it?

[8233]

Thanks,
Sure leaves out a lot doesn’t it

Yes it does! There is also a Operations Manual in the library that has much more information but to my knowledge, it is not a required document to be kept in the airplane, only the AFM.

https://cessna120140.com/wp-content/upl ... 20-140.pdf

I forgot that my own AFM is marked with a Tentative Approval. Per the TCDS, it is acceptable for aircraft up to and including the 1947 model and I also noticed it actually has more info than the Final version. I am attaching it here it case it helps. Mine was from April of 47 and the final was in March of 48 with 2 different approvers as well.

can you scan those into a.pdf so I can print it?

PDF is too big to attach in the forum. Message me your email and I will send you a PDF copy.