Bitching Betty AOA

[Gary0747]

I have had a Bendix King AOA system for several years and really like it except for one issue. The BK system is made by Alpha Systems so I assume this same issue is present with them also.  I have my system set with this woman’s voice to alert me through my intercom when the AOA is getting too high. She starts repeating “Too Slow” continuously until I decrease the angle of attack. That works great except when landing when I am flaring.  I used to ignore it but now that I have the laser altitude system calling out my height above the runway I have got two voices at the same time talking to me in my head set.  The ideal solution would be to have the altitude system shut off the audio input to my intercom from the AOA system when I am near the runway but That function is not currently present. Does anybody else have this issue or have you found a solution?

[carusoam]

Gary,

You will be treading into dangerous water by turning off the AOA warning…. With anything other than a temporary mute system… that automatically comes back to life….

Getting BK support sounds like a fun challenge…

Ask Alpha systems if they have a method to mute their line of products… there might be a button or setting there somewhere…

Good luck with your next steps…

Best regards,

-a-

 

[donkaye, MCFI]

  On 2/15/2022 at 5:05 AM, Gary0747 said:

I have had a Bendix King AOA system for several years and really like it except for one issue. The BK system is made by Alpha Systems so I assume this same issue is present with them also.  I have my system set with this woman’s voice to alert me through my intercom when the AOA is getting too high. She starts repeating “Too Slow” continuously until I decrease the angle of attack. That works great except when landing when I am flaring.  I used to ignore it but now that I have the laser altitude system calling out my height above the runway I have got two voices at the same time talking to me in my head set.  The ideal solution would be to have the altitude system shut off the audio input to my intercom from the AOA system when I am near the runway but That function is not currently present. Does anybody else have this issue or have you found a solution?

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You don't have to have a voice audio.  Look at the manual where it discusses "set audio choices".  I set mine up for 3 beeps.

[Gary0747]

Beeping would be an improvement but I can not find that feature listed anywhere in either the BK install manual or pilots guide. I wonder if it is offered on some or all of the Alpha Systems models?

[PT20J]

  On 2/16/2022 at 1:27 AM, Gary0747 said:

Beeping would be an improvement but I can not find that feature listed anywhere in either the BK install manual or pilots guide. I wonder if it is offered on some or all of the Alpha Systems models?

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There's another thread around where someone said BK stopped selling this years ago and doesn't support it. They called Alpha and got great support. 

[M20F-1968]

  On 2/15/2022 at 7:33 AM, donkaye said:

You don't have to have a voice audio.  Look at the manual where it discusses "set audio choices".  I set mine up for 3 beeps.

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Don,

Tell me about the 3 beeps on the Alpha System AOA.  What are the criteria that triggers the alert?

John Breda

[donkaye, MCFI]

  On 2/16/2022 at 6:32 AM, M20F-1968 said:

Don,

Tell me about the 3 beeps on the Alpha System AOA.  What are the criteria that triggers the alert?

John Breda

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Here is the page from the manual that describes the audio setup and meanings.

Pages from Eagle Pilot's Guide.pdfFetching info...

[Gary0747]

I contacted Alpha Systems with this question and got the following response:

“This product was based on our older legacy product technology, and modified into the KLR 10, simply put, Nothing can be modified to that product line. The unit for Bendix only has one preselected audio choice.

As far as the Alpha Systems AOA units, once the unit identifies “HIGH” or near “critical” Alpha, the unit is programmed to only annunciate 3 times “Too Slow”, then the audio is muted.”

Telling me three times then muting would be an improvement.  Mine continues well past three even as I am rolling on the runway slowing down.  Maybe a squat switch would help silence her  Has anybody added one?

 

[carusoam]

  On 2/17/2022 at 10:53 PM, Gary0747 said:

I contacted Alpha Systems with this question and got the following response:

“This product was based on our older legacy product technology, and modified into the KLR 10, simply put, Nothing can be modified to that product line. The unit for Bendix only has one preselected audio choice.

As far as the Alpha Systems AOA units, once the unit identifies “HIGH” or near “critical” Alpha, the unit is programmed to only annunciate 3 times “Too Slow”, then the audio is muted.”

Telling me three times then muting would be an improvement.  Mine continues well past three even as I am rolling on the runway slowing down.  Maybe a squat switch would help silence her  Has anybody added one?

 

Expand  

Nice work getting that communication!

Mooneys have two choices for switches… you already have one.

1) Squat switch… or

2) Air Speed switch…

But, how do you tie that in to silence the unwanted blabbermouth… 
 

Best regards,

-a-

[Gary0747]

I did not know I had an air speed or a squat switch?  The only switch I am aware of is the throttle position and Johnson bar switch?  The squat switch would be the simplest solution.  Squat switch in series with the BK audio.  Using the contacts that would open the audio feed from the BK when squatting.  

I asked Alpha Systems if I could get a newer control box but was told no. 

[carusoam]

Manual gear… no airspeed or squat switch…. 

If you have an airspeed switch… expect it to be connected to a flight timer…

Adding an airspeed switch would be a visit to the parts bin at Alan’s shop or Lasar for a new one…

Airspeed switches are precise and expensive

Adding a squat switch is probably the shortest putt….

Best regards,

-a-