[Avionics Today 01-10-2017] The Piper twin-engine Piper Seminole and single-engine Archer TX have achieved FAA certification, said Piper Aircraft. Both piston training aircraft feature the Garmin G1000 NXi platform. Wireless cockpit connectivity and improved ADS-B, among other capabilities, are available in the cockpit thanks to the Garmin suite. All Piper airplanes carry Garmin avionics.
Piper PA-44 Seminole over Bulgaria. Photo: KGG1951 / CC BY-SA 3.0.
Piper Seminole and Archer deliveries have begun, and the University of North Dakota John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences is the launch customer. The contract was awarded last April for more than 100 trainer aircraft. So far, 12 have been delivered.
The Piper Seminole also includes the Air Data Computer (GDC 72) and Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) (GRS 79), while the Archer TX includes the Air Data Attitude Heading Reference System (ADAHRS) (GSU 75) and the Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) (GRS 79). The trainers also carry other parallel features, like dual instrument flight rules (IFR) enroute/approach and wide area augmentation system (WAAS)-certified GPS systems and Nav/Comm 16-watt radios (GIA 63Ws).