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| Avidyne IFD540 FMS/GPS/NAV/COMs flight management system. Photo: Avidyne |
[Avionics Today 07-22-2015] Avidyne Corporation, a provider of integrated avionics and safety systems for General Aviation (GA) aircraft, has released a new Software Developer Kit (SDK) that allows third-party developers to create applications for smartphones and portable tablet devices using the wireless data streams coming out of the IFD540 and IFD440 FMS/GPS/NAV/COMs.
Two different SDKs will be made available. Tier 1 developers who are creating applications that only require receiving of the wireless data stream (read-only) will be able to easily register, accept the royalty-free licensing agreement, and download the SDK from the Avidyne website. Tier 2 developers, those who plan to create apps that send data back to the IFD540/440 (read/write), will need to apply separately and complete a more thorough vetting process and testing protocol before their specific app will be approved and authorized by Avidyne.
Avidyne expects the Tier 1 SDK to be available in the third quarter of 2015.
“Our open-architecture SDK makes the data stream available not only for professional app developers — several of whom we are already working with — but also for students, flight schools, and even hobbyists who want to create new and innovative solutions for the pilot community,” said Dan Schwinn, Avidyne’s president and CEO, who noted that the software could be used to develop moving maps on iPads, electronic flight logs or fleet tracking.