Stefan, you're citing phenomenon in the high end market, and you're
right. Except that ControlVision only designed the software; the
hardware is affordable because they are mass-market items. I was
essentially comparing a $400 yellow-tagged attitude gyro for a
homebuilt or spam-can replacement, vs. the prospect of an even $500
electronic version. Will never happen at expected unit sales volume,
or at least not until there is serious tort reform, if then. It's
much less risky restricting sales of new-tech but safety-critical
items (through pricing and STC) to high-end aircraft professionally
flown and maintained. IOW, there is a high pricing "floor" to this
stuff that has absolutely nothing to do with the decreasing cost of
the electronic components. The #2 selling (and quality) transponder
-- Narco AT-150 -- has all 50-cent, 7400-series chips, and they're on
the financial rocks. Investment in a custom, surface-mount VLSI will
not solve their problems. Nor will a competitor, in this stagnant
market, get rich.
Regards,
Fred F., A063, retired IRS number-cruncher and biz realist by
(tortured) osmosis
Stefan Ridderheim wrote:
>
> I think you are totally wrong.
>
> After 24 years in the computer business I have noticed a dramatical droop
> price-performance, nothing in the past has this history.
>
> Take as an example The Control Visions product; "Anywhere" a gps, moving
> map, database, HSI, EFIS, etc "instrument" for a price of 1100$ incl an
> Ipaq. Or take the Arnav for 6000$. If you backup 10 years you might have
> found these equipments on a brand new airliner to a cost of lets say
> 500.000$..... That is what I call a dramatical price drop.
>
> Well not certifed in the case of Control Visions stuff for 1100$. Is a watch
> from your gas station for 10$ certified? No, but it is MORE accurate than
> FAA's requirements.
>
> People in the aviation instrument business need to watch out for the
> revolution that is comming, let me give you one example, Northstar CT-1000
> is priced at 10 000$, what is it? It is a simple handheld computer with
> performance of about 4-5 years back, nothing more. It should, will be,
> priced at max 1500$ and only if they bring the performance up to date.
>
> I strongly belive that in 1-2 years the complete instrumentation for our
> type of aircrafts will cost less than 5000$ incl com radio... and it will be
> more accurate than any of the old mechanical inaccurate stuff of today.
>
> I think that the revoultion we have seen in the yatching industry will
> happen here as well.
>
> The people in FAA need to be more aggresive to certify, and accept new
> approches to what is safety. An example, IFR requires misc Radio nav
> equipment... Why is not the gps-only accepted.. it is more accurate, more
> reliable, etc.
>
> Lets save money and get the electronic instrumentation on the move faster.
>
> Kindest regards
> Stefan
|