iFly GPS Forum

John Austin,

I was paraphrasing this line from the article:

The notification recommended that affected NavWorx UATs installed in an aircraft “not be operated, and should be removed or deactivated.”

You're correct, it's a proposed AD. But I guess the FAA is asking for immediate voluntary compliance.

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Jeff Nokomis Clark, Mooney M20G, iFly app on ASUS ZenPad Z8s, ASUS ZenFone AR, ASUS Windows 10 tablet, Stratux ADS-B w AHRS

Last year I installed one in my C-182. There is a lot more to this story. This is back to when the FAA put out a revision to the GPS requirements saying it only need to show that it meets the requirements of the TSO, not go through the entire TSO certification. NavWorx at the time was selling two models, one with their own GPS chip, and one with a TSOed chip that sold for some $1200 more. With that change, NavWorx submitted paperwork to the FAA to show their own chip met the requirements of the TSO. The FAA accepted it but asked NavWorx to continue to broadcast a SIL (Signal Integrity Level)of 0, which is used for Non Certified GPS units. That was fine for the time as their was no difference in how the FAA handled them. Then early this year, the FAA stopped transmitting traffic data from the ground stations to all ADS-B units that were broadcasting a SIL of 0. This cut off the NavWorx owners from vital traffic information. NavWorx then filed with the FAA that since they had submitted paperwork showing the GPS met the spec based on the rules change, that they should be able to change the SIL to 3 (showing a certified GPS), and considered this a minor change, since it was down through a S/W update. 6 MONTHS LATER, the FAA responds in a letter that they do not consider the changing of the SIL not a minor change, and all NavWorx units that were changed are now not in compliance with the STC and thus MUST BE REMOVED. The proposed AD as written says all the NavWorx ADS-600B units with a P/N ending in 0012 or 0013 and the Experimental version must be removed before further flight, no exception. Many NavWorx were installed using an Approved external GPS, no exception for that. There are some that are still on the old code and still broadcasting a SIL of 0, no exception for that. No opportunity to roll the code back. They must be removed. This is the FAA at it's worst. Please take a look at the comments posted on the NPRM https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowse...D=FAA-2016-9226 Add your voice if you think as I do that the FAA is acting wrong here.

Shane:

I have the 600 EXP on my Avid Flyer and I am still receiving targets. Not sure I understand the bit about FAA not sending targets.

I will NOT remove this unit from my aircraft since, in the last two months, it has warned me of two impending nose-to-nose midairs.

I am a survivor of a midair in 2002 and don't intend to test my luck again.