My SVT won't work. Any ideas?

[ConwayB]

G'day All,

I have just imported an ex-USAF O-2A (Cessna 337 Skymaster's military variant) and have installed a glass cockpit - a Garmin 500 with Synthetic Vision Technology upgrade.

I flew it from Archerfield to Townsville the other day and the SVT didn't work except for about 10 minutes. For the rest of the trip, I kept receiving the 'Terrain Data Not Available' voice message and 'Terran N/A' indication.

The avionics shop that installed it for me is in the US and he reckons that because we don't have dedicated WAAS here, then it won't work. (That doesn't sound right. SVT uses a terrain database and position is based purely on GPS with or without WAAS).

Can anyone shed any light on this?

If you want to see the machine, go to my website at www.ipas.com.au and go to the 'aviation services' page. You'll see the cockpit layout there as well.

Cheers

Conway

[Deaf]

I kept receiving the 'Terrain Data Not Available' voice message

The machine is trying to tell you something. Think of how useful the Brisbane street directory is in Townsville.

[Jabawocky]

Not familiar with teh G500, but make sure the WAAS is turned OFF. Plays havok with your GPS when not in a WAAS environment.

Make sure you have the data card correctly loaded and seated into its socket properly. We had Terrain Data Not Available messages once, re-seated the card all good again.

[training wheels]

What sort of coverage do they have with respect to terrain data? Is it world wide coverage or only major cities (outside USA). SVT would be useful to some of the remote high terrain places we fly to in Indonesia.

[ConwayB]

SVT issues

Deaf: Huh? I hope you're taking the piss.
Jabawocky: I'll give that a go. Like I said, it was intermittent so perhaps you're right and it's a contact problem. I will also try and turn off the WAAS and see how that goes.
Training Wheels: I was under the assumption that it is a worldwide terrain database so if Indonesia has provided the terrain data, then Garmin should have access to it.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Cheers
Conway

[ConwayB]

Furthermore

Just to paint a picture of the issue...

Whilst on the ground at Archerfield, the SVT would come live and then disappear.

En route to Townsville, and inland from Rockhampton as I was dodging weather, the SVT came live and painted the terrain beautifully.

When I flew the machine in the US, it worked like a charm. I had Safe Taxi airport diagrams with my little aeroplane symbol taxiing along the runways and when I shot an approach, the SVT painted the runway on the screen just like on a simulator. I could have virtually landed the aircraft just by watching the PFD as I flew the finals path. It was beautiful! Now... it's a bit frustrating.

Hopefully a re-seating of the data card may help... but I tried that whilst in Brisbane and to no avail.

Conway

[Bevan666]

SVT in the G500 definitely works properly in Australia. Seen an installation in a Trinidad.

Now, your issues could be one of incorrect basemap data for australia. Check that you have the correct databases installed. (dont ask me how though!)

Bevan..

[VH-XXX]

Perhaps you can also start another thread to tell us about how you successfully managed to import an aircraft from the USA to Australia and any problems that you may have had along the way.....?

[ConwayB]

Cheers

G'day Bevan666,

Thanks for the reply. I'll check the basemap and let everyone know. The Garmin support in Australia is pretty sketchy. From what I can gather, it's different avionics shops that claim to be Garmin agents... but their knowledge of the product is usually confined to how to sell it and how to install it... and that's about it.

VH-XXX,

I picked up the AOPA magazine the other day and there was an article in there about importing aircraft and the pitfalls to watch out for. As I read it, on each paragraph I said to myself: "Yep. I learnt that the hard way." I wish I had read that article earlier this year!

If you want to see some pics of it, including one where it's in the container about to be unloaded, go to my website at www.ipas.com.au and go to the 'Aviation Services' page.

Cheers
Conway

[MakeItHappenCaptain]

The avionics shop that installed it for me is in the US and he reckons that because we don't have dedicated WAAS here, then it won't work.

Crap. It works perfectly fine in G1000 SR22s. Maybe get an avionics shop ie someone who actually knows what they're doing (rather than a bunch of misleading although well intentioned guesses.)

If it has wheels, tits or wings you know its gonna cost you.

[Jabawocky]

Conway,

i know the bloke who wrote that, and yes for anyone contemplating importing its well worth reading.

Let us know how you go.

A side note, folk like Dynon use a different database that covers the entire planet, I am yet to fly with it but its may well be another case of where the TSO'd folk are years behind. I hope yours is eay to sort out.

J

[Stikybeke]

Conway,

I'm not trying to be a smartie or anything but I'm just curious, given that it's ex-usaf do you have to register that as a "warbird" ? Yes, I know I'm a dummy ( I can hear you all....).

Thanks,
Stiky

[Sunfish]

First eliminate the database as the problem. See if you can replicate the failure by flying over the same area you had the issue. If it is confined to certain areas then you may have a corrupt database or a broken card. Alternatively , see if you can borrow another card or have your card and the integrity of the database checked on the ground.

If the card is OK and the database is not corrupt, then

Sounds like disabling WAAS is a good idea.

[ConwayB]

Thanks for the reply

MakeithappenCaptain - Thanks. Like I said, when it worked, it worked well. In the States it worked like a dream when I flew it there but here in Aus, it drops in and out.

Jabawocky - I'll look into Dynon. I've never heard of them!


Stickybeke - That's not a stupid question at all. The whole warbird scene can be a little complicated. My aircraft has been registered in the 'Normal/Standard' category as opposed to the Limited/Experimental category of warbirds. That's because my machine was originally designed as a civilian machine so Cessna has put out drawings and instructions on how to 'de-militarise' it so it can be put back into civilian register. The main issues were to remove the foam anti-explosion material in the tanks, remove all the radios and racks in the passenger compartment, install some extra components and install decals and placards. I did all that and had it registered in the US and C of A'd for export and then brought it here. I then needed to do the usual stuff when importing aircraft (check all SDs and SBs, make sure all the appropriate safety gear was installed, do any further servicings and get VH registration... and there you have it. A genuine warbird in the standard category certified for IFR charter.

Sunfish - thanks. I'll try and sort out the card problem. The SVT worked on and off at Archerfield, usually on the ground, and then whilst transitting to Townsville, for about 15 minutes west of Rockhampton. The terrain database seems good because I get terrain warnings on the GNS 430 as well as on the MFD, it's just the SVT part of the system with the 3D imaging of terrain that seems to be the issue.

Cheers
Conway
www.ipas.com.au

[Stikybeke]

Thanks for that very detailed response Conway....even I was able to understand it...

Sounds like a lot of mucking around but worth it at the end I guess...in any case, on another note, that's a good website you've got there, clearly you're helicopter focussed ....good to see you're expanding your horizons (or you've come good) and flying FW aircraft .....

Stiky

[wigglyamp]

G500 issues.

Be careful if swapping the terrain card on the G500. The card is tied to the specific G500 PFD so once installed in a particular unit, it won't work in any other unit. If you borrow someone else's card for testing then it won't help to diagnose your problem.
Loss of terrain would suggest bad data rom the GNS430W/530W. Does the GPS and/or the PFD show 'INTEG' message? Do you lose the magenta track line on the MFD when you lose SVT?
It doesn't matter whether the GPS is receiving WAAS data or not - in Europe we haven't had an active SBS system until 3 weeks ago, but all of our G500/600 installs have worked fine without.

[ConwayB]

Once again, thanks

Stickybeke - hmm. Come good? Perhaps. FW flying is a bit of a challenge compared to RW flying... but I enjoy a challenge. Fortunately, the aircraft is a dream to fly... although a couple of little maintenance issues have reared their ugly head and so with tears in my eyes, I am about to pull out my cheque book. (I miss flying for the military.... no need for a cheque book there!)

Wigglyamp - Thanks mate. I'll try and check my data card first before doing anything with another card. The GNS 430 gives me terrain warnings and I get the terrain map warnings on the MFD (Yellow for terrain between 1000 to 100' below and Red for terrain between 100 and 0' below) and all other functions work fine. Like I said, the SVT and the associated Airport Signs, Horizon Headings and Terrain work sometimes and then they don't. At start up, I get the 'Terrain System Check - OK' voice indication, but then get a 'Terr N/A'. Indicating Terrrain Not Available. as opposed to Terrain Failure which is what happens if you pull the card out of the machine. I'll keep trying and let you know how I go. Cheers, Conway

[frigatebird]

The whole warbird scene can be a little complicated. My aircraft has been registered in the 'Normal/Standard' category as opposed to the Limited/Experimental category of warbirds. That's because my machine was originally designed as a civilian machine so Cessna has put out drawings and instructions on how to 'de-militarise' it so it can be put back into civilian register. The main issues were to remove the foam anti-explosion material in the tanks, remove all the radios and racks in the passenger compartment, install some extra components and install decals and placards. I did all that and had it registered in the US and C of A'd for export and then brought it here. I then needed to do the usual stuff when importing aircraft (check all SDs and SBs, make sure all the appropriate safety gear was installed, do any further servicings and get VH registration... and there you have it. A genuine warbird in the standard category certified for IFR charter.

Conway
Obviously you are a patient man. There were a couple of ex USAF 02A's that were donated by the U.S. Government, and languished in Honiara for over a decade, (mentioned them on a previous thread) and it would have been a nightmare to get one of them onto a civil register with the red tape involved. (with or without a bit of palm-greasing, of course)

[frigatebird]

That photo of your panel looks the goods for a 337!
Thats what the Solomons Government could have had for a Police aircraft for surveillance and staff transport had they put some effort in..



Maybe there are opportunities there for you to help them with a 'Project' ?

[ConwayB]

G'day Frigatebird

G'day mate,

Interesting concept. What project are you speaking of? I have friends who regularly tour into and out of SI in support of RAMSI.

Conway