Tom Martin
Well Known Member
I just had my Advanced Flight System 3500 updated with the latest software including mapping and approach plates. The map is a lot better then I had expected; very user friendly with an update speed that is faster then my Garmin 496. The airport information is easy to find and the approach charts are simply awesome on this large screen. I would say the chart is almost twice the size it would be in the paper version. Only half of it shows on the screen but the knob very easily scrolls down with no delay. With my 50 year old eyes it is nice to finally get something on an EFFIS that is easy to read.
When you push the NRST,(nearest airport), button it gives a list of those airports as you click down the list a line is placed between your current position and a distance is displayed. For me this is a big step forward in situational awareness versus just having a bearing and distance.
The update in software adds a nice feature to the knob on the right. Now when you click the knob a list of "bugs" appears. You simply keep clicking until you get the one you want. This will speed up the process and make the bug feature much more useful. The altitude bug, for example, gives you an audio alert about 200 feet before you reach your target and another alert when you get to altitude, ether rising or descending. Then if you vary more then 200 feet you get another audio alert. I could not get this function to work with the previous software version and with the new knob function I know I will use this feature on most flights.
Service at the home of Advanced Flight Systems was again a very pleasant experience. The turn around time was less then 24 hours and there are a number of people that can walk you through the learning curve.
A big thank you to the Rob and Jennifer Hickman, their staff, and to Stein Air for gently nudging me in the AFS direction.
When you push the NRST,(nearest airport), button it gives a list of those airports as you click down the list a line is placed between your current position and a distance is displayed. For me this is a big step forward in situational awareness versus just having a bearing and distance.
The update in software adds a nice feature to the knob on the right. Now when you click the knob a list of "bugs" appears. You simply keep clicking until you get the one you want. This will speed up the process and make the bug feature much more useful. The altitude bug, for example, gives you an audio alert about 200 feet before you reach your target and another alert when you get to altitude, ether rising or descending. Then if you vary more then 200 feet you get another audio alert. I could not get this function to work with the previous software version and with the new knob function I know I will use this feature on most flights.
Service at the home of Advanced Flight Systems was again a very pleasant experience. The turn around time was less then 24 hours and there are a number of people that can walk you through the learning curve.
A big thank you to the Rob and Jennifer Hickman, their staff, and to Stein Air for gently nudging me in the AFS direction.
