Landing Height System is now FAA Certified for all Pipers

[Zulumike]

Any recommendations for LHS system installers around north Florida?

Saint Aviation, X35 outside Ocala, installed mine recently. Excellent system, I have the Holy Micro Sky Voice Alert. I flew with the Beta version since July and had their production version installed about 2 weeks ago. The unit is wired into the audio panel. Great bang for the buck. Really helps with night landings. My last night landing was so smooth that both my passenger and I never felt the mains touchdown.

 

[Arrow4]

Saint Aviation, X35 outside Ocala, installed mine recently. Excellent system, I have the Holy Micro Sky Voice Alert. I flew with the Beta version since July and had their production version installed about 2 weeks ago. The unit is wired into the audio panel. Great bang for the buck. Really helps with night landings. My last night landing was so smooth that both my passenger and I never felt the mains touchdown.

I was not aware of the other brand out there. I have a Landing Height System unit and it works extremely well. Totally agree on night landings, takes the guess work out of where you are in the landing phase.

 

[5x5]

I will likely get a lot of flack for being a nay-sayer or anti-technology, but I do have a bit of a concern about a system like this. What happens after flying with this for a period of time and getting used to flaring in accordance to the height announcements and then one day there is no announcement? I expect at first everyone will still be looking out the window and judging height visually and using the announcement simply as confirmation, but as there is more comfort and trust developed with the system (as with all automation) will the visual judgement degrade and/or disappear? Especially at night where many people don't fly that much anyway, what happens when suddenly the magic little voice isn't there and you're very close to the ground waiting for it?

Hopefully pilots with this system who are reporting improved landings are working ardently to notice the relative sight pictures corresponding with the announcements and diligently building them into their improvements. And hopefully they make flights regularly with the system turned off so good visual judgement has to be maintained.

 

[GM.]

Or... they should find themselves in a seat in another airplane not so equipped...at night.

 

[RBosque]

Saint Aviation, X35 outside Ocala, installed mine recently. Excellent system, I have the Holy Micro Sky Voice Alert. I flew with the Beta version since July and had their production version installed about 2 weeks ago. The unit is wired into the audio panel. Great bang for the buck. Really helps with night landings. My last night landing was so smooth that both my passenger and I never felt the mains touchdown.

Saint Aviation in X35 (Ocala, FL) installed an AC100 autopilot in my airplane a couple of years back and an Avidyne IFD440 just a couple of days ago. I have nothing but positive things to say about Saint Aviation. The quality of their work, their work ethic, customer service, friendliness, etc. are top tier and their prices are reasonable as well.

While sitting in their office waiting for the IFD440 installation, I noticed a box labeled "Holy Micro" and asked Jesse Saint about it. He said he has one installed in his plane and loves it. And the price seems reasonable. I may have one installed in my plane as well.

 

[RBosque]

Saint Aviation in X35 (Ocala, FL) installed an AC100 autopilot in my airplane a couple of years back and an Avidyne IFD440 just a couple of days ago. I have nothing but positive things to say about Saint Aviation. The quality of their work, their work ethic, customer service, friendliness, etc. are top tier and their prices are reasonable as well.

While sitting in their office waiting for the IFD440 installation, I noticed a box labeled "Holy Micro" and asked Jesse Saint about it. He said he has one installed in his plane and loves it. And the price seems reasonable. I may have one installed in my plane as well.

That said, it seems to me that prudent pilots should use this device to help them improve their sight picture and judgement of altitude instead of becoming dependent on it.

 

[Jimmy J]

2nd the opinion on Saint Aviation. Good guys - did a lot (autopilot removal/install, new Comm 2 radio, new audio panel, Sandel removal/G5 installation, Holy Micro LHA-500 install) last week - and I mean week - that’s how long it took & on budget.
Would happily go back if I need more.
Best of all, Jesse communicates, which is a lost art these days.
As far as becoming dependent on the Landing Height System, you won’t. I certainly don’t round out and flare because of something I hear thru the audio panel - it only adds another level of S.A. I only wish the voice was a stern German female vs the good mood guy - it’d get my attention more.

 

[RBosque]

2nd the opinion on Saint Aviation. Good guys - did a lot (autopilot removal/install, new Comm 2 radio, new audio panel, Sandel removal/G5 installation, Holy Micro LHA-500 install) last week - and I mean week - that’s how long it took & on budget.
Would happily go back if I need more.
Best of all, Jesse communicates, which is a lost art these days.
As far as becoming dependent on the Landing Height System, you won’t. I certainly don’t round out and flare because of something I hear thru the audio panel - it only adds another level of S.A. I only wish the voice was a stern German female vs the good mood guy - it’d get my attention more.

 

[5x5]

As far as becoming dependent on the Landing Height System, you won’t.

I'm truly not trying to start an argument but this comment does sort of illustrate my concern. The first thought that comes to mind is, if you aren't going to depend on it, why have it? A number of folks have commented very favourably about the improvement in landings that they have experienced. It is insidious, and very difficult not to become dependant on something that is improving your performance. And it's so very much easier to rely on it to make your flare judgement at night rather than getting out more and perhaps arranging some remedial flying with a better or more experienced pilot to improve your own visual judgement skills.

Again, I'm not trying to start a fight, just hoping that folks who are installing this system at least keep in mind all potential aspects of its impact. And make sure to still make a lot of flights with the system disabled.

 

[ymmit]

Saint Aviation in X35 (Ocala, FL) installed an AC100 autopilot in my airplane a couple of years back and an Avidyne IFD440 just a couple of days ago. I have nothing but positive things to say about Saint Aviation. The quality of their work, their work ethic, customer service, friendliness, etc. are top tier and their prices are reasonable as well.

While sitting in their office waiting for the IFD440 installation, I noticed a box labeled "Holy Micro" and asked Jesse Saint about it. He said he has one installed in his plane and loves it. And the price seems reasonable. I may have one installed in my plane as well.

I’ve seen such wonderful reviews about Saint Aviation. My question is (& I don’t think I’m in a tiny minority of aircraft owners, & hope I’m not being overly naive):

How do you (in general) arrange to get to and from his - or other long distance - shop(s) when your home base is at least several flight-hours away? Particularly if one isn’t socially interactive with other aircraft owners who might follow and then fly you to pick up your plane? Obviously, the arrangement takes at least 2 individual transportation methods, unless you live within an hour’s drive of the shop. Just wondering…