G1000 Legacy & NXI Software Upgrades Announcement

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mfdutra
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Re: G1000 Legacy & NXI Software Upgrades Announcement

Post by mfdutra »

I have a Cirrus G6 with the latest NXi software. The LVL and ESP functions depend on special hardware, which is the high speed servos that can apply a high and controllable amount of torque to the servos very quickly and precisely. If the DA has those servos, it's just a matter of software to make them work, although the LVL requires a button connected to the autopilot controller. The autopilot is independent from the screens, so I don't think they could do a soft button, and honestly, that wouldn't make any sense, since this is supposed to be used in a task saturation scenario when the shit hits the fan.

LVL works, but honestly I think it's a very poorly implemented upset recovery technique, and it will totally refuse to engage if the airplane exceeded 70 degrees of bank, when you'd mostly need it. I've had some serious upset recovery training myself, so I'd never use LVL for that purpose, unless my brain shutdown completely and I'm unable to think. I think it's nice when I'm hand flying around and I need to get distracted with a checklist, drink water, something like that. It also helps trimming for level flight.

LVL means wings level on the lateral mode and VS-0 (vertical speed zero) on the vertical. It doesn't maintain a fixed pitch nor altitude. If you get a convective jolt and gain 200 feet, it will stay there seeking VS-0.

I'm very likely to upgrade to a new DA62 next year, so I'm very interested in this thread about the missing features, because I already got used to some of them. Visual approaches are fantastic to make sure we are stable on ramp, lined up with the right runway at the right airport. I love it and really don't want to regress on that.

Checklists are nice, but honestly I find ForeFlight even nicer, since I can edit and adapt to my personal flow. I could live without, but it's nice to have.

3D audio is nice and I always use it, but I could also live without. Sometimes it actually annoys me when I'm flying far and want to be a good citizen and monitor 121.5. In that case, I switch to mono.

SurfaceWatch is nice. If you select the departure and/or landing runway and line up with a different one, it will yell at you. If you line up with a taxiway, it will yell at you. I like it.

Split screen really doesn't work well in 10" screens. A bit nicer on the 12" ones, but still nothing compared to what the G3000 offers. Not even close. I never use it.

200 feet alert is nice, as it's a good reminder to get busy, adjust power, etc, especially after a long climb or descent.

I really hope Diamond solves all these issues before I'd take delivery. Otherwise, I'd become another loud voice.
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VickersPilot
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Re: G1000 Legacy & NXI Software Upgrades Announcement

Post by VickersPilot »

Three questions :)

1) Can someone kindly explain these features to be added:

Barometer Altimeter Preselect Mode
System Copy and Aircraft Report
Flight Path Angle Reference Cue - is this just the Flight Path Vector ?

2) Is there any advantage to using Surface Watch over say ForeFlight?

3) Is there a formal submission to Diamond of DAN's Requested roadmap for for Phase 4 from the above feedback?

My suggestions would be:
- Low Speed Protection with AP OFF - lost this upgrading from Cirrus...
- AoA - lost this upgrading from Cirrus...
- Auto YD Engage/Disengage at 200ft AGL - lost this upgrading from Cirrus...
- Dual AHRS/ADC Option - lost this upgrading from Cirrus...
- Hypoxia Check/Automated Descent Mode - lost this upgrading from Cirrus...
- Garmin Smart Rudder Bias
- Decoded ECU Errors as CAS (Intelligent Errors)
- Stabilized Approach*

*from Cirrus
Once an approach is loaded and activated, Stabilized Approach
simultaneously activates and monitors the aircraft configuration, position
in relation to the published approach procedure and wind conditions.
If at any time the aircraft strays laterally or vertically from an acceptable
approach path, does not have the appropriate flap configuration for the
given phase of flight, a possible incorrect altimeter setting is detected or
there are adverse wind conditions, the pilot is alerted visually and aurally.


Thanks!
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Re: G1000 Legacy & NXI Software Upgrades Announcement

Post by mfdutra »

Flight Path Angle Reference Cue shows a blue dashed line in the PFD exactly at the angle of the approach loaded. On most approaches, it would be 3 degrees, but it's nice to have a reminder that you may be flying a steeper approach. My Cirrus has that. I'd never miss that though.

Surface watch will alert you aurally if you are lined up with the wrong runway or with a taxiway.

AoA - yes Diamond, please!! Cirrus only has that with FIKI though.

Auto YD - no no, please absolutely no! Huge mistake by Cirrus here. YD is a tool, and the pilot should elect when to use it or not. Cirrus shoves the YD down your throat, promoting laziness and a generation of pilots who don't know what feet are for in an airplane. Turning off automatically is nice indeed and I'd appreciate that. Turning on automatically and removing the button, no way!
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Boatguy
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Re: G1000 Legacy & NXI Software Upgrades Announcement

Post by Boatguy »

VickersPilot wrote: Mon May 10, 2021 9:18 am 3) Is there a formal submission to Diamond of DAN's Requested roadmap for for Phase 4 from the above feedback?

My suggestions would be:
- Low Speed Protection with AP OFF - lost this upgrading from Cirrus...
- AoA - lost this upgrading from Cirrus...
- Auto YD Engage/Disengage at 200ft AGL - lost this upgrading from Cirrus...
- Dual AHRS/ADC Option - lost this upgrading from Cirrus...
- Hypoxia Check/Automated Descent Mode - lost this upgrading from Cirrus...
- Garmin Smart Rudder Bias
- Decoded ECU Errors as CAS (Intelligent Errors)
- Stabilized Approach*

*from Cirrus
Once an approach is loaded and activated, Stabilized Approach
simultaneously activates and monitors the aircraft configuration, position
in relation to the published approach procedure and wind conditions.
If at any time the aircraft strays laterally or vertically from an acceptable
approach path, does not have the appropriate flap configuration for the
given phase of flight, a possible incorrect altimeter setting is detected or
there are adverse wind conditions, the pilot is alerted visually and aurally.
Stabilized Approach: If you're flying a coupled approach, this seems moot. If you're flying by hand, isn't this the purpose of the CDI and GP/GS indicators? and I definitely don't want to get warnings regarding my flap settings.

No, there is not a Phase 4 list, but I think it's a great suggestion. It would of course be only for NXi since legacy G1000 is no longer receiving updates from Garmin. Would you please start an NXi Phase 4 thread with your suggestions?
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VickersPilot
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Re: G1000 Legacy & NXI Software Upgrades Announcement

Post by VickersPilot »

Thanks Russ, that's done now.
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Charles K
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Re: G1000 Legacy & NXI Software Upgrades Announcement

Post by Charles K »

To the Diamond 6, any word on when these software upgrades will be released? For my plane now upgraded to WAAS they were saying October in the letter. Do we have any news at this point?
chili4way wrote: Fri Feb 19, 2021 8:55 pm Diamond Aircraft is sharing with DAN their path forward for 2021 software upgrade certification projects.

Attached is a letter from Diamond announcing their plans for software upgrades for WAAS-equipped Legacy G1000 Diamond Aircraft and Phase II-equipped G1000 NXI Diamond Aircraft.

CFIDave's "G1000 Evolution for Diamond Owners" may be a helpful reference when reviewing the list of feature improvements and how they will apply to your airplane and its present GDU software version.


Diamond Software Upgrades Announcement-17Feb21.pdf
Charles
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Re: G1000 Legacy & NXI Software Upgrades Announcement

Post by CFIDave »

Charles K wrote: Fri Oct 15, 2021 11:12 pm To the Diamond 6, any word on when these software upgrades will be released? For my plane now upgraded to WAAS they were saying October in the letter. Do we have any news at this point?
Unfortunately no. We sent a letter to Diamond a few weeks ago requesting an update, but haven't heard anything back.
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Charles K
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Re: G1000 Legacy & NXI Software Upgrades Announcement

Post by Charles K »

Ok thanks - keep us posted please! Would love to get some of those features.
Charles
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Re: G1000 Legacy & NXI Software Upgrades Announcement

Post by lgrennlee »

That is funny ... on Friday I sent a query to support regarding this topic but not having seen these recent posts. Their response:

"Hello Logan,

I'm sorry but we do not have any release dates to share for new software on the DA40 at this time.

If you have any further technical questions, feel free to contact us again.

Kind Regards,
Technical Services Specialist"

I then asked them about October but have not heard back.
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Re: G1000 Legacy & NXI Software Upgrades Announcement

Post by MackAttack »

It would also be worth knowing when they will implement Phase 3 in new aircraft ... last I heard it was beginning of 2022 with updates for earlier aircraft to follow. No clue on Phase 4 however.
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