gear warning Take-off and Landing Height Announcer with Gear Warning System for Mooney

[HolyMicro]

We would like to use this opportunity to introduce SkyVoice Alert LHA 500 for certified as well as experimental aircraft. It is the only Take-off and Landing Height Announcer with LiDAR range of 590ft and Landing Gear Warning from 560ft until the gear is down and locked. It is good for general aviation aircraft's like Mooney, Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, Diamond etc.

It can announces the heights through the aircraft's Audio panel or pilots' headset (Wired or Bluetooth) when the LiDAR (Laser) measures a set of predefined altitudes. This assists pilots to gain better depth perception, and make necessary adjustments for a safer approach and touchdown. Use of the SkyVoice Alert 500 can reduce the chance of a High Final Approach, Low Final Approach, High Round Out (High Flare), Hard Landing, Late or Rapid Round Out, Floating or Ballooning during Round Out, Bouncing during Touchdown, and Porpoising. Most importantly, it helps pilots confirm or correct their perceived depth (height above ground) by comparing it to the actual depth announcement from the device. It augments pilot's spatial orientation by adding another dimension - depth - through audio announcement. Ground clearance in ft can be projected on the Heads Up Display (HUD). LiDAR Central wavelength is 905nm and Frame rate is 100Hz.

• LiDAR range of 590ft.

• Repeated gear warnings from 560ft until the gear is down & locked.

• LiDAR based height call-outs, 500 to 1ft on Take-off/Landing.

• Bluetooth or wired, HUD

• Many user selectable Reminders:

    Check Gear, Checklist, LC GUMPS, Flaps, Check Speed, Check Tank and Check Fuel

    GPS/MSL Height call-outs & reminders - Check Oxygen, IFR Altimeter and Top of descent.

 

Using 30 minute Installation kit, you can install and test fly with SkyVoice Alert 500 in less than 30-minutes. There will be no wired connection to your Aircraft. Battery in 30 minute Installation kit is good for running LHA with Bluetooth for 20 hrs.

 

Visit https://holymicro.com/ home page & SkyVoice Alert LHA 500for the product page

 

Edited May 20, 2024 by HolyMicro
Added image of SkyVoice Alert 500

[Mooneymite]

Affordable technology to the rescue!

[DonMuncy]

Is it saying that it is wired into the plane, unless you buy the 30 minute installation kit, and in that case it is not wire in, but battery operated. I assume in each case the height sensor is permanently mounted, so it has to be installed by an A&P. Thus an STC, or minor modification.

[Greg Ellis]

1 hour ago, DonMuncy said:

Is it saying that it is wired into the plane, unless you buy the 30 minute installation kit, and in that case it is not wire in, but battery operated. I assume in each case the height sensor is permanently mounted, so it has to be installed by an A&P. Thus an STC, or minor modification.

They don't mention anything except on the first page of the website where it says "No STC required" but they do not mention if that is for both options or just the one not wired into the ships systems.

[hammdo]

It does say NORSEE which is A&P needed. Looks interesting- compared to LHS from MirorKit 

They should get supporter to advertise though…

-Don

[jetdriven]

We installed one of those micro light LHS systems, but the install data for this thing is severely lacking. And when I called them about it, they said well since it was Narcy and it was supplemental that they don’t have to document it as well. I should’ve just returned the system. It took us 15 hours to integrate it into the audio panel and the GPS And actually were violating the audio panels install manual because we are connecting this unit to the audio panel, but it’s grounded internally so it introduces electrical noise into the audio system. That said, after we configured it works pretty well except for counts up when you overflare and balloons, slightly, and it’s rather annoying.  

[PT20J]

41 minutes ago, jetdriven said:

works pretty well except for counts up when you overflare and balloons, slightly, and it’s rather annoying.  

Cool - now we can quantify bounces and balloons! 

[Pinecone]

Intro price $300 more (over $400 from list price) than LHS for a higher warning about the gear. 560 feet versus 200 feet.

I really like my LHS.

 

[David_at_HolyMicro]

On 5/16/2024 at 11:07 AM, DonMuncy said:

Is it saying that it is wired into the plane, unless you buy the 30 minute installation kit, and in that case it is not wire in, but battery operated. I assume in each case the height sensor is permanently mounted, so it has to be installed by an A&P. Thus an STC, or minor modification.

This is David from Holy Micro!, the maker of the SkyVoice Alert.  Our install is a minor modification in all cases.  If you use the battery powered 30 Minute Install Kit no power is drawn from the aircraft, and the audio is sent over Bluetooth.  In this case it is a temporary attachment, like a GoPro or Levil BOM.  If you are connecting to the aircraft power or the audio panel then it is a minor modification and no STC is required.

[David_at_HolyMicro]

19 hours ago, jetdriven said:

We installed one of those micro light LHS systems, but the install data for this thing is severely lacking. And when I called them about it, they said well since it was Narcy and it was supplemental that they don’t have to document it as well. I should’ve just returned the system. It took us 15 hours to integrate it into the audio panel and the GPS And actually were violating the audio panels install manual because we are connecting this unit to the audio panel, but it’s grounded internally so it introduces electrical noise into the audio system. That said, after we configured it works pretty well except for counts up when you overflare and balloons, slightly, and it’s rather annoying.  

This is David from Holy Micro!, the maker of the SkyVoice Alert.

#1 We supply everything that you need to complete your installation.  This includes a high quality aviation grade wiring harness with shield.  Our installation will not introduce any noise, and our audio is very crisp and clear.

#2 Since we are supplying a complete install kit including a precut inspection plate and all of the stickers and labels, our install should not take more than four hours.

#3 Since you can connect to our audio over Bluetooth, a wired connection to the audio panel is not always necessary.  Since the Bluetooth audio is digital it has no noise and is extremely crisp and clear.

[David_at_HolyMicro]

1 hour ago, Pinecone said:

Intro price $300 more (over $400 from list price) than LHS for a higher warning about the gear. 560 feet versus 200 feet.

I really like my LHS.

 

This is David from the Holy Micro! Support Team, the maker of the SkyVoice Alert.

Most radio shops charge $150 per hour.  Based on RPM’s statement that it took 15 hours to install the LHS, the cost of installation for the MicroKit device could be $2250.  This is where we make a big difference!  Since we supply everything that a radio shop needs to complete the installation, the installation of our SkyVoice Alert can be done in 5 hours or less.  Don’t forget that we cut the inspection plate at no charge to you.

[David_at_HolyMicro]

4 minutes ago, David_at_HolyMicro said:

This is David from the Holy Micro! Support Team, the maker of the SkyVoice Alert.

Most radio shops charge $150 per hour.  Based on RPM’s statement that it took 15 hours to install the LHS, the cost of installation for the MicroKit device could be $2250.  This is where we make a big difference!  Since we supply everything that a radio shop needs to complete the installation, the installation of our SkyVoice Alert can be done in 5 hours or less.  Don’t forget that we cut the inspection plate at no charge to you.

MicroKit LHS Price - $1165.00
Installation cost (15 hours of labor) - $2250.00
Supplies - $250
Total cost - $3665.00

SkyVoice Alert Price - $1450.00
Installation cost (5 hours of labor) - $750
Supplies - $0
Total cost - $2200.00

With the SkyVoice Alert you get more features and higher call outs.

[201Mooniac]

Just to be clear, my MicroKit LHS install only took 6 hours so I think 15 is way over stating it.  While it might have taken one shop that long, I do not believe it is the norm.  Also, the only supplies that were needed were pins for the connectors to the audio panel and GPS so I don't know what $250 for supplies entails.

[Jetpilot86]

10.75 hours at Maxwell for my LHS.  Very Happy with it.

[hammdo]

My LHS install was 5 hours (@ the time $100 per hr), $50 for supplies. Every shop I’ve been to charges for supplies….
BTW, I was their first LHS install too…

Just so there is some context for real installation times…

I still think supporter status from a vendor should be done since there are comparisons made to one that is…

-Don

[David_at_HolyMicro]

3 hours ago, 201Mooniac said:

Just to be clear, my MicroKit LHS install only took 6 hours so I think 15 is way over stating it.  While it might have taken one shop that long, I do not believe it is the norm.  Also, the only supplies that were needed were pins for the connectors to the audio panel and GPS so I don't know what $250 for supplies entails.

 

This is David from the Holy Micro! Support Team, the maker of the SkyVoice Alert.  I am not a pilot.  I just provide software support at Holy Micro. 

Let’s go over the supply details.   A LHA unit needs to be installed on an inspection plate either under a wing or under the fuselage.  This requires 15 to 20 feet of aircraft grade shielded electric cable with 5 conductors to connect the unit to the instrument panel.  This cable alone costs $75 - $100. Then you also need fuses, switches, Solder sleeve, butt splices, and screws to make the connection work and meet the FAA requirement.  If there are no stickers the installer needs to make those stickers which again cost time and money.  In order to mount the LHA to the inspection plate, the inspection plate needs to be cut and new holes need to be drilled.  This is addition time and money.  An inspection plate kit for the MicroKit LHA costs an additional fee of $45 - $65.  We include a precut inspection plate in our kit, and we also offer to cut customers inspection plates at no charge.  We also offer decals to use as a template if you want to cut the inspection plate yourself.  You can even download files from our website so you can cut the inspection plate on a CNC machine.  All of this is included in our price.  In any case, by including all of the supplies and free fabricated wiring harness and stickers it is saving the buyer time and money.  Therefore installing SkyVoice alert should take less time than MicroKit.

I know that the SkyVoice Alert  gear warning starts at 560 feet and our reminder start at 500 feet.  Pinecone wrote that his gear warning / reminder only starts at 200 feet.  This means that you have less than 30 seconds to put the gear down and land.  I think this is not enough time, therefore you have to go around.  With SkyVoice Alert 500 you have over a minute, enough time to put the gear down and still land.  To me that is a great value.

 

[dkkim73]

My MicroKit unit took 12 hrs at Mooney. Might be on the high side. Though they'd done a few. 

That said, it was installed in an inboard wing port, tied to the GIA #2 for GPS and GIA #1 for gear indication, height calibrated, etc. Everything was solid and carefully documented, on a separate breaker and wired into the audio system on the prior ADF channel, with labels. etc. Parts cost about $27. 

Performance was as expected right away. Enabed the lower altitude call-outs (2', 1', etc). It has been bomb-proof over the last (nearly 50) hrs. I'm very happy I got it and find it very helpful for SA, esp. for new airports and at night.  Support was prompt and low-drag. 

I imagine it could be installed for less. OTOH a zero-labor install of anything would worry me. And I personally don't want to rely on BT, WiFi, sympathetic vibrations in the ether, or other methods for notification. 

my 2 cents

DK

 

[Pinecone]

My LHS install was nowhere near 12 hours. Maybe 6 at most (was part of some other work)

[LANCECASPER]

8 hours ago, David_at_HolyMicro said:

MicroKit LHS Price - $1165.00
Installation cost (15 hours of labor) - $2250.00
Supplies - $250
Total cost - $3665.00

SkyVoice Alert Price - $1450.00
Installation cost (5 hours of labor) - $750
Supplies - $0
Total cost - $2200.00

With the SkyVoice Alert you get more features and higher call outs.

If a shop takes 15 hours of labor to install the LHS, they are either clueless or gouging everyone that walks in.

In May of 2022 the Mooney Factory Service Center installed the first LHS they had ever done on my airplane. (They had never even heard of an LHS before.)

My IA and I had installed one on my previous Mooney, so I told them how we did it and what the logbook entry looked like. (my IA and I including a couple phone calls for support took about 5 hours to do it.) Mooney was fair with me and charged me 4 hours labor ($360) and no charge for supplies. They were doing some other things on the airplane so I'm sure that helped.

[jetdriven]

2 hours ago, LANCECASPER said:

If a shop takes 15 hours of labor to install the LHS, they are either clueless or gouging everyone that walks in.

In May of 2022 the Mooney Factory Service Center installed the first LHS they had ever done on my airplane. (They had never even heard of an LHS before.)

My IA and I had installed one on my previous Mooney, so I told them how we did it and what the logbook entry looked like. (my IA and I including a couple phone calls for support took about 5 hours to do it.) Mooney was fair with me and charged me 4 hours labor ($360) and no charge for supplies. They were doing some other things on the airplane so I'm sure that helped.

Well, this is on a twin Comanche, which requires pulling all four seats and the seat rails and pulling up all the carpet and all of the floor plates to get to the wire bundle to pull the wire up to the cockpit and then going behind the panel and interfacing it into an already installed GTN750 and a GMA 345 and perhaps four hours of that was spent trying to figure out how to wire up the signal wire to the gear switch, as it turns out, they actually actually had some kind of drawing which was backwards, but it was at least somewhat  informative  enough to get us to figure out one of eight different ways to get a diode in series with the bulb to let the LHS know it was on the ground. Don’t forget you gotta find 12 V somewhere and pull it to a breaker and then take that to the unit as well. The owner of the company says since they are norsee, and there’s no STC that the documentation is minimal, you’re required to figure out yourself.  I’m pretty stupid, but I’m also smart enough to know that you can’t wire a self grounded unit into the GMA 345 audio panel because it violates the fact that the grounds are supposed to be isolated. There is a high and a low on each audio input for a reason.  I do find an interesting that the manufacturer did tell you that you have to have either a breaker somewhere that you can pull quickly or a switch on the panel somewhere to turn it off in case it goes crazy. But it goes to an unswitched audio input, but then you have a safety device that may or may not be on all the time depending on whether it freaks out or not. Anyway, you guys can do what you want, but we had one experience with this thing and it was pretty terrible. 

[dkkim73]

FWIW Mooney told me that, after installing a few, they realized it took longer. 

That said, as is pointed out above, there are a few details. 

D

[LANCECASPER]

20 hours ago, jetdriven said:

Well, this is on a twin Comanche, which requires pulling all four seats and the seat rails and pulling up all the carpet and all of the floor plates to get to the wire bundle to pull the wire up to the cockpit and then going behind the panel and interfacing it into an already installed GTN750 and a GMA 345 and perhaps four hours of that was spent trying to figure out how to wire up the signal wire to the gear switch, as it turns out, they actually actually had some kind of drawing which was backwards, but it was at least somewhat  informative  enough to get us to figure out one of eight different ways to get a diode in series with the bulb to let the LHS know it was on the ground. Don’t forget you gotta find 12 V somewhere and pull it to a breaker and then take that to the unit as well. The owner of the company says since they are norsee, and there’s no STC that the documentation is minimal, you’re required to figure out yourself.  I’m pretty stupid, but I’m also smart enough to know that you can’t wire a self grounded unit into the GMA 345 audio panel because it violates the fact that the grounds are supposed to be isolated. There is a high and a low on each audio input for a reason.  I do find an interesting that the manufacturer did tell you that you have to have either a breaker somewhere that you can pull quickly or a switch on the panel somewhere to turn it off in case it goes crazy. But it goes to an unswitched audio input, but then you have a safety device that may or may not be on all the time depending on whether it freaks out or not. Anyway, you guys can do what you want, but we had one experience with this thing and it was pretty terrible. 

Wasn't meaning to offend you and I wasn't referring to your installation on a twin Comanche. I'm sure it would have been a lot less time on a Mooney.
I was referring to the post where the seller of the Holy Moly device was saying that an average LHS install was 15 hours and $250 in supplies and his device was 5 hours and no supplies. I was pointing out that in the two installations on my airplanes,  the first one, a Bravo took 5 hours with my IA and myself doing it including a couple calls to Nidal at LHS, who was extremely helpful. The second one on the Acclaim, the Mooney Factory Service Center charged me 4 hours on, even though it was the first one they had done. Both of mine worked flawlessly.

[good2eat]

1 hour ago, jetdriven said:

Well, this is on a twin Comanche, which requires pulling all four seats and the seat rails and pulling up all the carpet and all of the floor plates to get to the wire bundle to pull the wire up to the cockpit and then going behind the panel and interfacing it into an already installed GTN750 and a GMA 345 and perhaps four hours of that was spent trying to figure out how to wire up the signal wire to the gear switch, as it turns out, they actually actually had some kind of drawing which was backwards, but it was at least somewhat  informative  enough to get us to figure out one of eight different ways to get a diode in series with the bulb to let the LHS know it was on the ground. Don’t forget you gotta find 12 V somewhere and pull it to a breaker and then take that to the unit as well. The owner of the company says since they are norsee, and there’s no STC that the documentation is minimal, you’re required to figure out yourself.  I’m pretty stupid, but I’m also smart enough to know that you can’t wire a self grounded unit into the GMA 345 audio panel because it violates the fact that the grounds are supposed to be isolated. There is a high and a low on each audio input for a reason.  I do find an interesting that the manufacturer did tell you that you have to have either a breaker somewhere that you can pull quickly or a switch on the panel somewhere to turn it off in case it goes crazy. But it goes to an unswitched audio input, but then you have a safety device that may or may not be on all the time depending on whether it freaks out or not. Anyway, you guys can do what you want, but we had one experience with this thing and it was pretty terrible. 

In the MicroKit instructions, it actually says a breaker or a switched input in the audio panel.  I connected mine to the unused switchable ADF (which I’m relabeled as LHS) on my 450b.  Works like a charm.  
 

And for what it’s worth, I installed (under supervision) the entire unit myself in about 5 hours - would have been shorter but this was the first time I had removed side panels and glareshield.  It’s really not a difficult job.

[hammdo]

Same here ADF…

-Don

[HolyMicro]

Here are the major differences between your LHS and our SkyVoice Alert LHA 500

Major difference are:

LHS's range 200 ft  vs SkyVoice Alert's range 590 ft

Your first gear warning at 200 ft vs our first gear warning at 560 ft. 200 feet is too close to the ground and you have less than 25 seconds to land. This is too little time and too close to the ground to put the gear down and land. You have to go around. At 560 ft, you have more than 1 minute, enough time to put the gear down and make the landing.

Device only vs complete installation kit which include everything an installer need to complete the installation. This save 3-4 hrs of technician's time in ordering and making wiring harness, stickers, labels, cutting the hole in the inspection plate, finding the right switch, fuse, connectors etc. All of these supplies alone cost over $200.

2 Reminders vs 5 Reminders - one each at 500, 400, 300, 200, 100 and we offer many more options for reminders.

Keep in mind, FAA control how many announcements and what height we can make those announcements. Therefore, it is the same height announcements except we have higher range and therefore we have time to give more announcements. All of these are options. 

No announcements on takeoff  vs Option for announcements and reminders on takeoff

Wired audio only vs wired or Bluetooth and receive high quality digital audio - save time on installation and don't have to mess with audio wiring or bring unwanted noise. 

No on-board speaker vs On-board speaker - helps to troubleshoot audio wiring issues quickly. Save time on installation.

No display option vs normal display option and heads up display option.

SkyVoice software and its hardware are better and has many more features that LHS simply don't have.