The end of an Aera?

[M016576]

The power button on my Aera 560 died a few months back. The unit still works though, as it auto powers up when I put it in its cradle, and gives me a shutdown option when I take it off power. So I've been using it nonetheless. Anyway....

All this talk about ADS-B lately on this board has got me thinking about my options, of which, up until now I'd been heavily leaning towards the KT-74. But ever since I've seen the flight stream 210, I've been rethinking my plan... Maybe I should get rid of the aera, the gdl 39 and get a gdl88 and a flight stream 210... Then use Garmin pilot on my iPhone for my "mfd" as opposed to the aera 560. It certainly is cheaper: Garmin pilot is about 140 a year, to keep the charts updated on an aera is 300 a year (I only update the nav data 1-2 times a year... So it's 50-100 bucks for me). After looking at the prices for subscriptions and such, though, it got me thinking: is the dedicated handheld GPS unit a soon to be orphaned product/concept? In this world of connected everything, I can't imagine an aircraft owner without a smartphone. Who would buy a new Aera, when a product like foreflight, wingx and pilot give you updated charts, for 1/10th the price. What says the crowd? Is anyone else going through this dilemma too?

Oh, as a card carrying member of the cheap B club, I'm extremely adverse to the idea of subscriptions.... Highway robbery

[Hank]

I'm starting to use Avare on my phone & tablet. It's free, updates in minutes and works well. It's great for planning. It's Droid-friendly for us frugal pilots (ios hardware is pricey, and many apps are sold; good ones have recurring charges or upgrade costs).

Still have paper, which lives in the plane and the batteries don't die. I don't have the tablet with me every time I leave the house, and do fly spur-of-the-moment sometimes when the weather is nice and I get hungry. A trip back to the house just won't always work. There's no wifi at my new airport so I have to update at home.

[Piloto]

I had a similar problem with my 560 and found out that it was caused by a defective battery. Get a new battery and have it charged for a day using the AC charger. I found out that the battery does not get fully charged when the unit is on and on the plane cradle. To fully charge the battery is best with the unit off on the AC charger

 

There are some functions in the 560 that you will not find on a smartphone app. One that I use all the time is the vertical speed required VSR for your destination. It keeps you on the proper descent rate. The other is the OBS function on the HSI. I use it to perform ILS like approaches to runways with no approach at all. On the HSI mode it provides lateral and vertical deviation down to the numbers. Very handy for private fields. On the 560 you can declutter the map for easier reading of what matters to you. On the Foreflight you have a cluttered VFR map all the time. In a small screen like a smartphone this is important to consider. The database on the 560 includes  data (airports, terrain, airspace, airways, frequencies) for north, central, south America the Bahamas and the Caribbean, including airways all the way down to the Patagonia on a single update. You do not get this coverage on the apps. 

 

José

[Danb]

Flying into Detroit this morning about 10 miles from the field my darn IPad Air for the second time locked up, anyone else have this same issue, I fly with the mini also for a backup for my charts in addition to paper, my air has locked up on other apps at home ??

[MB65E]

I think a solid handheld ie 496, area, or 696 etc will always be better than the IPAD for just navigation. The iPad is awesome for preflight planning and charts. However route planning, and tinkering inflight with the iPad during flight drives me nuts. The exception is with the 750/650... I feel I'm more efficient with Foreflight than I am with GTNs during a bumpy cruise flight. That is with over 75hrs of GTN time. I'd do what I could to save your favorite portable GPS!

-Matt

[triple8s]

(Danb) Flying into Detroit this morning about 10 miles from the field my darn IPad Air for the second time locked up, anyone else have this same issue, I fly with the mini also for a backup for my charts in addition to paper, my air has locked up on other apps at home ??

YES! I have a minipad and it gets hot and locks up on occasion it sometimes locks up when it isn't hot, that why I consider those types of devices only an aid. They aren't certified for a reason, in fact I personally know a fella who flies IFR and has kx170's and an iPad with stratus, which is fine but he relies on his IPad not the certified navcoms which I feel is a bad habit to get into. I am going to get a fan for my minipad it connects to a duct on my airgizmos, hopefully that will reduce the lockups.

[M016576]

Of note, I recieved a response from Garmin: for $250 they swap your old one for a new one.

I also asked if they were planning on incorporating the same features as a flight stream 210 into any of the handhelds (ie being able to load flightplan a into a 430W). The answer: "there are no new upgrades currently planned for the Aera devices." I would think it would be as easy as adding whatever the software mode is from the flight stream (probably aviation out, or GTN crossfill). I really think Garmin is trying to get away from the handhelds and go where the money is: subscriptions through their pilot app.

[jetdriven]

I had a similar problem with my 560 and found out that it was caused by a defective battery. Get a new battery and have it charged for a day using the AC charger. I found out that the battery does not get fully charged when the unit is on and on the plane cradle. To fully charge the battery is best with the unit off on the AC charger

 

There are some functions in the 560 that you will not find on a smartphone app. One that I use all the time is the vertical speed required VSR for your destination. It keeps you on the proper descent rate.

 

José

The aera will charge fully if the bus voltage is 14.1 or higher

WRT the vertical speed required function.... 4nm per 1000' to lose works pretty well. No need for. Computer to tell you what the vsi should be saying. That's pilot stuff.

[aviatoreb]

I have in my cockpit, a 430W, an Aera 510, an iPad mini and an iPhone 4 (my old one as I am on to my iPhone 5S as my daily phone).

 

I really think the Aera 510 has an important role in my cockpit separate from the iThings.  I have it mounted below the 430W and above the throttle quadrant.  

 

-It receives cross fill from the 430W.  I really like cross fill.  So it lets me have a nice moving map page up full time and I keep the 430W usually on the nav page, but I am always flipping around on it for nav info like frequencies and so forth.  I also use the 510 as my XM weather source.  So I am always looking on it to see what is reported weather at destination, and graphical weather.

-I do now have ADSB in and out, in by gdl39-3d, and out by TT31 transponder.  SO I do get adsb weather but I like XM weather more so I kept XM weather and the aera is my source for that.

-My iPad is for charts, and plates and some traffic - garmin pilot app.  

-My iPhone is on the window column left of pilot (not blocking any actual window).  I keep it on the garmin pilot app traffic page full time.  I also have a small cable out of the iPhone into the audio port - for audible warnings such as traffic.

 

I don't see the aera going away anytime soon.  Its like the poor man's 530.

 

I have been thinking about the garmin contect - and I might do it - during my recent avionics shop visit when they did my adsb transponder I had them do the lead wire to make a connect install trivial - since they were already back there behind the stack to do the transponder.  It would be nice to be able to upload flight plans from the iPad - but I am not sure if it is worth the trouble or not since I don't think it would change my flying. And there are other things I want sooner.  I do think the whole victor airway structure is annoying the way the controllers tell you to take an airway then you have to spend some time figuring way points - happened to me yesterday.  I asked the controller to give me a bearing to get me starts which he was happy to do.  Then I put the victor airways into my iPad garmin pilot - then I put that manually into the 430W. A bit clugy but ok.

 

Oh Job - why are you turning your 560 on and off? I never tough the button.  It sits in the cradle - and self turns on when it receives charging power when I turn on ships master power.  Then it autoshuts off (in 30 seconds - unless I tell it not to) when I shut down ships power.  I bet I don't touch the aera button more than 2 or 3 times a year.

[Danb]

Trips let me know how the fan works..luckily I don't utilize the iPad except fpr charts and backup, I have a G1000 so the extra backup is quite comfy when it works..I'm considering putting my av8tor back on the yoke

[Danb]

Erik...I couldn't agree more...seems like your ass is covered..I don't think you can have to many backups...winter is just around the corner was picking up clear ice at 5500 over State college Pa Sunday am..

[M016576]

I have in my cockpit, a 430W, an Aera 510, an iPad mini and an iPhone 4 (my old one as I am on to my iPhone 5S as my daily phone).

I really think the Aera 510 has an important role in my cockpit separate from the iThings. I have it mounted below the 430W and above the throttle quadrant.

-It receives cross fill from the 430W. I really like cross fill. So it lets me have a nice moving map page up full time and I keep the 430W usually on the nav page, but I am always flipping around on it for nav info like frequencies and so forth. I also use the 510 as my XM weather source. So I am always looking on it to see what is reported weather at destination, and graphical weather.

-I do now have ADSB in and out, in by gdl39-3d, and out by TT31 transponder. SO I do get adsb weather but I like XM weather more so I kept XM weather and the aera is my source for that.

-My iPad is for charts, and plates and some traffic - garmin pilot app.

-My iPhone is on the window column left of pilot (not blocking any actual window). I keep it on the garmin pilot app traffic page full time. I also have a small cable out of the iPhone into the audio port - for audible warnings such as traffic.

I don't see the aera going away anytime soon. Its like the poor man's 530.

I have been thinking about the garmin contect - and I might do it - during my recent avionics shop visit when they did my adsb transponder I had them do the lead wire to make a connect install trivial - since they were already back there behind the stack to do the transponder. It would be nice to be able to upload flight plans from the iPad - but I am not sure if it is worth the trouble or not since I don't think it would change my flying. And there are other things I want sooner. I do think the whole victor airway structure is annoying the way the controllers tell you to take an airway then you have to spend some time figuring way points - happened to me yesterday. I asked the controller to give me a bearing to get me starts which he was happy to do. Then I put the victor airways into my iPad garmin pilot - then I put that manually into the 430W. A bit clugy but ok.

Oh Job - why are you turning your 560 on and off? I never tough the button. It sits in the cradle - and self turns on when it receives charging power when I turn on ships master power. Then it autoshuts off (in 30 seconds - unless I tell it not to) when I shut down ships power. I bet I don't touch the aera button more than 2 or 3 times a year.

I like your setup. I've got a spare iPhone 4 and an old iPad first generation sitting around the house, but I've been using them for the kids. Maybe it's time to convert one to aviation usage.

Part of my thought process is that I'd like to simplify what I'm carrying out to the airplane. I feel like I build this huge nest when I'm going flying, but im looking for a cleaner approach.

The reason I turn the aera on and off is that I don't have any iOS based pay-ware apps for flying. I take the Aera home with me and use it to build my flight plans (with the help of paper charts, which I get for free at work). Sometimes I use the AOPA flight planner on a big computer and print out their flight log. I also use the flight log function to back up "my times" when I'm filling out my logbook.

I actually use the Aera as my MFD. I use it to find frequencies, look at traffic patterns, flight plan, "find closest," etc. it also displays the ADSB Wx and traffic (although I've only seen traffic a couple times due to me being "in only.")

[aviatoreb]

Erik...I couldn't agree more...seems like your ass is covered..I don't think you can have to many backups...winter is just around the corner was picking up clear ice at 5500 over State college Pa Sunday am..

 

Thanks Dan.  It is amazing how much excellent situational awareness avionics (and i-Avionics) you can setup for not much.  Each part has a role.

 

I flew almost over State college yesterday late day, from KLNS home to KPTD.  I was in the sunshine over a layer at 9k when over Syracuse I heard pirep reports of rime in the clouds. (Not forecast).  So when I had to come back down through the layers over ptd I ran the tks just in case and I never saw ice, which is what is supposed to happen if it is working right.

 

I like your setup. I've got a spare iPhone 4 and an old iPad first generation sitting around the house, but I've been using them for the kids. Maybe it's time to convert one to aviation usage.

Part of my thought process is that I'd like to simplify what I'm carrying out to the airplane. I feel like I build this huge nest when I'm going flying, but im looking for a cleaner approach.

The reason I turn the aera on and off is that I don't have any iOS based pay-ware apps for flying. I take the Aera home with me and use it to build my flight plans (with the help of paper charts, which I get for free at work). Sometimes I use the AOPA flight planner on a big computer and print out their flight log. I also use the flight log function to back up "my times" when I'm filling out my logbook.

I actually use the Aera as my MFD. I use it to find frequencies, look at traffic patterns, flight plan, "find closest," etc. it also displays the ADSB Wx and traffic (although I've only seen traffic a couple times due to me being "in only.")

 

Its your own personal airplane.  Leave the stuff in the plane.  My aera, ipad mini and iPhone 4 all live in the plane full time, with charging wires all tucket away and hidden as much as I can.  I have the full garmin pilot subscription for ipad and iphone for flying use.  I like foreflight simply for the route planner option which is fantastic.  It is my favorite tool for preflight and flight plan submission.  For $75 a year its worth it to me.  Plus then my iphone 5 in my pocket is yet another packup.  But yesterday, my 13 year old was watching the inflight movie on my iphone 5.  (he is prone to airsick and finds that being distracted by a movie and earphones fixes that).  PS we were at Gettysburg yesterday touring the battlefields.  Ran into a group of West Point cadets and an officer-history instructor on top of Little Round Top.

[Piloto]

Kind of hard to charge these days with bayonets only when the other side still has bullets. Is this what they teach at West Point? In fact the M4 Carbine has no bayonet. When out of ammo you just run or hide.

 

José

[Andy95W]

They taught it at West Point in the 80s. Glad to see they still do.

[M016576]

Kind of hard to charge these days with bayonets only when the other side still has bullets. Is this what they teach at West Point? In fact the M4 Carbine has no bayonet. When out of ammo you just run or hide.

José

There's a knuckle on the M4 barrel that will clip into a bayonet if you want it...

[M016576]

Colonel Joshua Chamberline from Maine. They ran low on ammunition and redistributed after each assualt on their line. Finally ran out of ammunition; fixed bayonets and charged, swinging like a door on its hinges to turn the opposition into the line and not allow them to flank their line. Stuff history is made of ... All Army Officers learn this battle and other tactics and battles - some centuries old.

Col. Chamberline was a professor prior to the civil war. Not a "professional" officer. Our military sure would be different these days if we subscribed to the same concepts we did in the 1800's.

Then again, with modern systems and 15 years of continuous over seas "presence",, it's a little more difficult to maintain a functional citizen soldier army. We certainly do our best in the Guard, though....

As for the gear: i suppose I could leave it in the plane, but like I said- I use the Aera for flight planning. I am looking at a way to more perminent ky mount the GDL39 below the Glareshield- I'm going to try to get an antenna mounted to the belly and routed up to behind the panel during my IFR cert in a few weeks. That would get that "piece" out of the way.

Maybe I need to finally capitulate and get a Garmin pilot subscription or Foreflight subscription. If I do that, though, I think I might ditch the Aera, if it's possible... Just too much stuff for me to work with!

[aviatoreb]

Colonel Joshua Chamberline from Maine. They ran low on ammunition and redistributed after each assualt on their line. Finally ran out of ammunition; fixed bayonets and charged, swinging like a door on its hinges to turn the opposition into the line and not allow them to flank their line. Stuff history is made of ... All Army Officers learn this battle and other tactics and battles - some centuries old.

 

Uh - oh - I think I'm responsible for some major thread drift.  From Garmin Aera to Gettysburg and the education of future officers.

 

Why teach these old battles, or history at all?  Lots of reason, not least of which,

 

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it", George Santayana (1905) Reason in Common Sense, p. 284, volume 1 of The Life of Reason

 

I asked that group of young soldiers where they were from, expecting an answer by naming a division number.  When they said West Point I perked up and said, oh I used to teach there and they all double took and we were talking from there.  I didn't teach history though - I taught math of course at USMA from 95-97.  And later at USNA too - just ask Jobe.  

 

Its an amazing place and my son and I toured it on a gorgeous fall day - see pic.  I had not been back since I was a kid where I was there twice as a boy scout (from MD) and several times with my grandfather who was a civil war historian.  He knew every single monument and its story in that place (no exaggeration) - and there are A LOT of monuments at Gettysburg.

 

It is amazing to stand atop Little Round Top and survey the entire battle field of Gettysburg that is only a few miles long, and imagine 170000 soldiers of fellow country men just slaughtering each other.

 

Yesterday (and thinking about all day today) I was remembering that time in context of today's petty fights in Congress, in Washington, of politics that when standing at Gettysburg in front of so many stone markers of men dead, made me think of how today's politics of division can be taken as important rather than working to find a compromise.  I am saying that, please note, introspectively, and not trying to take a side or turn this into the Timothy thread, please.

 

So why teach the story of those three days today to today's cadets?  Because the story is still relevant today, perhaps in battle context strategically, but surely also for leaders of tomorrow for bigger lessons.  I could literally feel the momentous struggle in the stones and pastoral fields on a beautiful day in autumn.  It is a quiet peaceful place now, also a cutesie tourist town, a place to go buy a t-shirt.  For a moment I felt that was disrespectful to the hallowed memory, but I changed my mind.  It is a deep honor to the memory of the struggle to transform the place to so much peace and beauty.  I hope everyone can go there and buy a t-shirt, enjoy the peace and remember the struggle.

 

Picture of my son in the doorway of a monument atop Little Round Top, in a hoodie.

 

What were we talking about again?

 

[flyboy0681]

Flying into Detroit this morning about 10 miles from the field my darn IPad Air for the second time locked up, anyone else have this same issue, I fly with the mini also for a backup for my charts in addition to paper, my air has locked up on other apps at home ??

 

 

 

Read my posts where I said I don't trust the iPad enough to end my paper subscription. You just backed up my assertion.

 

My iPad recently locked up but not the Air, even the reset button didn't work. The only way I was able to get it functioning again was to plug it into my PC where it started downloading fixes.

[Piloto]

There's a knuckle on the M4 barrel that will clip into a bayonet if you want it...

 

OK, you go ahead and charge with your bayonet. I'll stay behind. I couldn't get mine at the PX store, credit card declined.

[aviatoreb]

So you are stating, The way you "charge" is with your credit card?

 

 

That is really funny.

[PMcClure]

Anyone want to buy my AERA 550 with XM radio? Haven't had it out of the box in over 2 years now. 

[fantom]

OK, you go ahead and charge with your bayonet. I'll stay behind. I couldn't get mine at the PX store, credit card declined.

 

I think Piloto is saying he 'charges from behind.'