MX 20 and GPSmap 496

Does anyone have a way of using the GPSmap 496 to drive the Garmin MX 20 MFD. This would be solely for VFR use, so issues of IFR are not germane. The issue is more a technical one of making the units communicate.

[kwmoore]

This was discussed about 2 years ago here. I don't know if things have changed or not, but I strongly suspect that the FAA would have a dim view of a noncertified portable unit providing data to certified (even VFR only) panel mount equipment like the MX20.

Perhaps Kent at Bevan could weigh in on any pertinent changes to the regs.

A morning call to my local ICT Flight Standards confirms that while it's okay to feed information TO a 496 it is not acceptable to feed information FROM the 496 to a Type Certificated product.

Kent McIntyre
Befan Rabell, Inc.