Avidyne introduces text messaging for general aviation

Have you ever seen “that guy” on the road? Have you even been “that guy?” You know, the one who feels compelled to text message while driving. What about while flying?

Well, starting in the fourth quarter of this year, Avidyne will begin delivering its MLX770 two-way Datalink Transceiver. For the first time, general aviation pilots will be able to send and receive SMS text messages directly through the multifunction display to mobile phones on the ground.

Avidyne says the response from customers has been “overwhelming.” The practicality – and novelty – of such a system is immediately apparent, adding a useful communication tool with people on the ground if you’re arrival is delayed.

Don’t expect long conversations though, Avidyne has limited the length of outgoing messages to 32 characters and they are entered by control knob, not keyboard.

“You wouldn’t be sitting up there chatting like you’re on a cell phone or computer,” says Tom Harper, director of marketing at Avidyne.

This feature, unlike a mobile plan, does not come with unlimited text messaging, rather each text message is expected to cost between $1 and $2 to send and receive because of the bandwidth usage on the Iridium satellites that enable the datalink. For every ten hours of flying, Avidyne expects the service to run between $70-120.

As for distracting the pilot, one would hope that we’ll see aviate, navigate, communicate (then text message) hold true. A passenger sitting in the right seat can just as easily use the system as well.

The text messaging features are not disabled during climb or descent. Avidyne emphasizes that, “the pilot will use discretion and good judgment to acknowledge the message at the appropriate time. These messages are considered low priority (cyan) so if a higher priority Traffic Alert (yellow) or Terrain Alert (red) message comes up, it will appear on top of any incoming email message.”