05 April 2008
A Special Note Regarding the Initial AML STC

Aspen Avionics received its initial Approved Model List (AML) STC for the EFD1000 PFDs from the FAA on Friday, March 28th, 2008, covering almost 400 makes and models of airplanes.  We promised our customers we would be shipping certified systems by the end of March 2008, and we are. 

This initial AML includes almost 60 % of Class I and II airplanes (those under 6,000 pounds).  We wanted the initial AML in place before the end of March to support most customer installations scheduled for April, and got as many into this first list as we could by this date.  And we are continuing to add more rapidly. 

The initial AML does not yet include those airplanes with Vne greater than 210 KIAS, and does not include conventional gear (tail dragger) airplanes.  We are continuing work to add these remaining Class I & II airplanes within the next couple of months, during which time we will also add FAA approval of the equipment interfaces needed to support the Century and ARC line of autopilots.  As we’ve told you previously, Class III airplanes (>6,000 pounds) will require even more certification work, which we plan to address later in 2008. 

High Performance Twins and Singles:

Several high performance singles and twins are not included in the initial AML due to a 210 KIAS operational limitation in the Airplane Flight Manual Supplement (AFMS).  This limit was established by the FAA based on what we could demonstrate in our primary flight-test airplane, a Piper Turbo Lance, during our FAA STC flights. We do not anticipate any performance problems at higher speeds.

For those aircraft with Vne of 211 KIAS and above, The EFD1000 can not yet be installed.  This includes most Barons, the Cessna 310, PA-23-235, PA-23-250, PA-24-400, PA-46-500, etc..  We will expand the speed limitation out to 260 KIAS during April and May, which will enable all but the rarest of high performance aircraft to benefit from an EFD installation. 

There is no way to gain FAA approval of an installation into an aircraft with a Vne of 211 KIAS or higher until we finish this work.

Conventional Gear Aircraft (i.e. tail draggers):

We didn’t include tail draggers in the initial AML because the FAA requested that we perform additional demonstrations for these types of airplanes, and we didn’t complete those demonstrations in time to globally add conventional gear aircraft to the AML.  We are now complete with our demonstrations, and we are currently working on completing the work necessary to add tail draggers to the AML.  We expect that this work will be complete within the next 30-60 days.

Until we add these aircraft to the AML, field approvals of our system may be possible using the AML-STC as the basis of a follow on approval.  If an owner or dealer wishes to pursue this field approval option prior to tail draggers being added to the AML, please have the dealer contact Aspen Avionics to help with that effort. 

Airplanes over 6000 lbs and multi turbine aircraft of any weight:

These are Class III aircraft (as defined by AC23.1309), and are not included in the AML due to additional certification requirements associated with these classes of aircraft.  Class III includes most of the heavier twins (and many “limited” TC war birds, i.e. not certificated as Experimental category). Aspen must complete additional certification work before we can add these aircraft to the EFD1000 AML-STC certification.  Our target is to complete this work during 2008.

Read the EFD1000 AML STC [PDF]