Which FMS? UNS-1K or GNS-XLS?

[mattflyae]

My corporate flight department is trying to choose which FMS to put into our new Citation V w/ 3 tube efis.

Does anyone have a preference between the Universal UNS-1K or the Bendix/King GNS-XLS?

 

[avratdwc]

Hey Mate, personally from me i prefer to use the GNS-XLS. It is a good, user friendly piece of equipment, however I do not think they are as popular as the UNS. I think that the UNS is well known and used in alot more types of equipment I found the UNS to be less user friendly. Once you get the hang of it, it all gets easy as the last one. Hope this helps. The other thing I like about the GNS is the colors in the display, helps differentiate alot. Atleast to me. CYA

 

[airbaker]

I've had experience with both, and can say that I prefer the Universal hands down.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

I have used both also...

hands down the UNS.

GNS/XLS is hokey junk.

 

[CitationCapt]

UNS or GNS-XLS

The UNS in my opinion is a little more user friendly, as compared to the GNS-XLS.

You may as well try both and judge for yourself.

CC

 

[Ty Webb]

I have used both also...

hands down the UNS.

GNS/XLS is hokey junk.

Hokey Junk?






I wouldn't say that. It does a lot of things well. One feature I did not like was that ifyou have to airways in your routing, it wll not find the intersection for you, and you ill actually haveto break out the chart (consult an aeronautical museum if you are not familir with this prehistoric navigaton device). Perhaps the Falcon fondler prefers an FMS with a "scratchpad" type of entry instead of the XLS "highlite cursor" type of selection, but I would be irate, too, if I was flying around in some frog-built can these days. . . . . Heh Heh!






Truth be known, the best FMS is whichever one you are currently using, once you get over the initial "my old FMS was better" syndrome. Pro Pilot mag dos some surveys on the FMS's each year, and UNS always beats GNS, so you might want to pull up those articles. Plus, each company can robably send you a demo CD to try it out for yourself on the computer.

Good luck!

 

[CitationCapt]

FMS

Ty,

I like that "frog built can" slant in your reply.


Go Boeing......

CC

 

[GREAT LAKES]

UNS 100%. Very user friendly.

Good luck!

 

[DC8Driver]

I have used both. I like both of them. UNS was easier to learn.

Flying the GNS now and really like it. Didn't first month

Can't go wrong either way.

 

[AV8OR]

Here's another for the UNS.

 

[F/O]

The UNS-1K is a sweet little box. Very easy to use and very compact. Support from Universal is good.

 

[hogdriver00]

UNS-1k

UNS all the way!

 

[Gulfstream 200]

130K to fly a "frog built can"

or...

35K to swing gear in a Boeing 717???

"heh-heh" to you (and your paycheck)


all in good fun....

 

[ultrarunner]

Ive used both...and I much prefer the UNS-K. In addition, if you are considering this box due to space limitations, it can be ugraged to a UNS-1K Plus, which is functionally equivalant to a UNS-1L. Which gets you a faster processor, better screen, a zip drive DTU loader (this GREATLY reduces time to update the database) and a few other internal changes.

hth.

 

[Ty Webb]

130K to fly a "frog built can"

or...

35K to swing gear in a Boeing 717???

"heh-heh" to you (and your paycheck)


all in good fun....

You know, that misconception of "swinging the gear for $35K" is about as accurate as the airline pilot's view of corporate pilots as "pager-wearing wage slaves flying little planes sloppily-under barely-any-rules-assisted-by-radio-boy". Boy, do I get tired of trying to clear that one up. . . . and now you make me defend my choice of a career, too. That's gratitude!

FWIW, I'm swinging the gear for $60K, working less than half the month, weekends off, and I leave my flight case in the bag room when I head home . . . . . . Next year, when I upgrade, I'll still be "swinging the gear" every other leg, and my pay will catch up to yours in short order, so don;t cry for me!

The difference is, to me, I'll still be leaving my flight case in the bag room, and scheduling my work around my life, instead of vice versa. I miss some of the great people and places I used to go to, but I don;t miss many other aspects of the job, which is why I made the right choice for me. SOunds like you have made the right choice for you.

Now, one other thing I should mention before I head back to the safety of the 121 board . . . . the Frogs have been equipping the export-models of their airplanes with self-tightening inertial reels, that after an hour or two have cinched into your seat, raising your BP and making your head swell . . . every so often, just reach down there and flip that little tab in the center of your 5 point harness, you'll feel instant relief, and your hat'll fit better.

Regards,

TW

 

[Gulfstream 200]

60k? oh sorry, and I thought you were underpaid working for "critter"

"next year when I upgrade"
is that like "the contract" thats just around the corner!!

oopps, I gotta go TY, my beeper is going off.....
must be a charter flight on the Falcon....

remember....GEAR UP!!

Ha Ha...kidding...

 

[Ty Webb]

Well, at first I was kind of joking . . . didn't know that you were so ignorant of airline operaions, so here goes:

1) "Critter" was 7 years ago, chief. There really isn't much left around here from that time. Different management, ownership, aircraft, FAA award-winning maintenance . . . and by October, even the last DC9 will be gone. In fact, the only Valuejet remnant around here is that every six months or so, some a$$hole will take a cheap shot at us, like you just did. Congratulations.

BTW, by October, the oldest airplane we have will be three years old.

2) $60K grand for an FO isn't too shabby. It pays more than many corporate Captain jobs, and our work rules, pay, benefit, schedules, SOP's and everything else are in writing, which is priceless.

3) My upgrade isn't determined by flight department politics. It's based upon delivery schedules, forecast retirements and my seniority number, I will be upgrading at about this time next year. We even have a computer program that allows us to to see exactly where we are in the process, at anytime.

4) You keep implying that I am somehow "just" an FO. which is pretty funny, because I was a Part 91 and Part 135 jet captain before I came here, and on the certificate of both TAG and BJS, with training at FSI and Simuflite, so you are really barking up the wrong tree.

At our airline, the FO is more of a co-captain than in a corporate operation. Trading legs is a requirement in our FOM; the only thing that we don't do as an FO is sign the release, "power-back" or taxi. If you should someday find yourself on of our flights, take a listen to the captain's greeting. Somewhere in there, he will probably have introduced you to his "co-captain", but I know, you are too busy tallying up your FF miles to want to listen to what he is saying.

Our curriculum for FO training provides more sim time for an FO than you probably got for any one of your type ratings, and when I show up for a PC check, (every 12 months!), we don't get warmup sessions like you do in corporate. We are expected to do our maneuvers to ATP standards and get it right the first time, cold. Yeah, it's a little harsh, but we're flying over 900 hours a year . . . . and I'll put my training, knowlege and skill in my airplane up against your skills in yours, any day, any time.

5) Apparently, you have a great deal of your self-worth invested in your paycheck and your job. Note that I haven't said squat about being a corporate pilot- believe me, after five years as one, I know the good, the bad, and the ugly, yet I choose here only to starighten you out about what it is that I do.

In closing, thank you very much for your concern for my well-being. Sorry about my crappy life, my miserable 4 bedroom golf-course home, my wonderful wife and two happy kids.

Maybe someday, I can be a real pilot like you, until then, I guess I'll just have to be . . . . . happy.

 

[bigD]

...and my Dad can beat up your Dad!

Jeez guys!

 

[Ty Webb]

...and my Dad can beat up your Dad!

Jeez guys!

Well, don't know about that, but if this was a prison, he would definitely be doing my laundry right about now.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

geez...man...take a chill!!!..

I was KIDDING!

enjoy your career at valujet, and that happy family, and that 16 bedroom house on a golf course, and your 110ft yacht, and your Bentley,and.......

We are very impressed!

????

 

[Ty Webb]

BENTLEY?

What the hell kind of airport car would that make, anyway?

The best kind of airport car is a Saturn with over 100K miles on it. They're made out of plastic, so you don;t have to worry about the paint . . . or door dings . . . . or beer spills. . . . or excessive mileage . . . all it has to do is start, and have cold A/C.

I guess a moped would work, too, but mopeds are like fat girls . . . fun to ride until one of your friends sees you on it.

Peace . . . I hope.

 

[Indapool]

ok that was fun but back on subject..

I'm punching buttons on an XLS now..
Take the UNS!

Now what did you say about my dad?!?!?