Bill Putney
Active Member
The Problem
Full disclosure: I haven't spoken to Dynon about this issue.
I'm wondering if what keeps the Dynon's Certified Autopilot list from expanding more quickly is a matter of having the engineering resources to design the servo brackets and control linkages and the logistical and cost implications of stocking parts for the 600-ish different types on their AML. Certainly the autopilots that Dynon currently produce fly in a wide variety of experimental aircraft and they only have bracket and linkage kits for a very few of them. Their setups are clearly detailed in easy to follow documentation and could be applied to Certificated types. Dynon has certified their servos and that is the hard to do side of the project.
Some types that have a lot of aircraft flying will come up on Dynon's to do list fairly quickly. Those types near the bottom of the list my have to wait a very long time or may never see an autopilot for their type. As is the case with any tech company Dynon's engineering resources are finite. If Dynon has to develop 600 installation kits, get FAA PMA for those parts and ultimatly stock them, it could be a while for some types. Personally, I'd rather have the Dynon engineers working on fixes, upgrades and features than designing brackets. It's a resource vs. return issue for Dynon. It's a functionality issue for us, no matter how low the volume of sales we might represent.
Is Type Club participation the answer?
If, as I suspect, the brackets and control linkages is the issue, the type clubs could certainly help out. If the type clubs or a group of owners collaborate to design the prototypes and work with the FAA ACOs to approve the data used to fabricate the parts, that could be licensed, at no cost, to Dynon to include in their STC.
It's quite common for some relatively low volume STCs to call out parts to be made rather than supplying a parts kit with the STC. Frequently these parts are made by owners under the owner produced parts rules or by a mechanic but the data is under the control of the STC holder. Some well organized type clubs already have PMA to make parts that have become unobtainium over the years and supply these to their owners. Those clubs might want to get a PMA to make the bracket and linkage kits for their owners. That could be part of the arrangement with Dynon.
Am I crazy?
I'd like to hear from people. Kick it around at a type club meeting or on a type forum. Repost it here please.
Thanks,
Bill
Full disclosure: I haven't spoken to Dynon about this issue.
I'm wondering if what keeps the Dynon's Certified Autopilot list from expanding more quickly is a matter of having the engineering resources to design the servo brackets and control linkages and the logistical and cost implications of stocking parts for the 600-ish different types on their AML. Certainly the autopilots that Dynon currently produce fly in a wide variety of experimental aircraft and they only have bracket and linkage kits for a very few of them. Their setups are clearly detailed in easy to follow documentation and could be applied to Certificated types. Dynon has certified their servos and that is the hard to do side of the project.
Some types that have a lot of aircraft flying will come up on Dynon's to do list fairly quickly. Those types near the bottom of the list my have to wait a very long time or may never see an autopilot for their type. As is the case with any tech company Dynon's engineering resources are finite. If Dynon has to develop 600 installation kits, get FAA PMA for those parts and ultimatly stock them, it could be a while for some types. Personally, I'd rather have the Dynon engineers working on fixes, upgrades and features than designing brackets. It's a resource vs. return issue for Dynon. It's a functionality issue for us, no matter how low the volume of sales we might represent.
Is Type Club participation the answer?
If, as I suspect, the brackets and control linkages is the issue, the type clubs could certainly help out. If the type clubs or a group of owners collaborate to design the prototypes and work with the FAA ACOs to approve the data used to fabricate the parts, that could be licensed, at no cost, to Dynon to include in their STC.
It's quite common for some relatively low volume STCs to call out parts to be made rather than supplying a parts kit with the STC. Frequently these parts are made by owners under the owner produced parts rules or by a mechanic but the data is under the control of the STC holder. Some well organized type clubs already have PMA to make parts that have become unobtainium over the years and supply these to their owners. Those clubs might want to get a PMA to make the bracket and linkage kits for their owners. That could be part of the arrangement with Dynon.
Am I crazy?
I'd like to hear from people. Kick it around at a type club meeting or on a type forum. Repost it here please.
Thanks,
Bill