Avidyne announced this week at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., that it is joining the push into touchscreen avionics control with the launch of the IFD540 FMS/GPS/navcom system. The IFD540 is a plug-and-play replacement for the Garmin GNS530, slotting into the Garmin tray and taking up the same real estate on the panel. The 10-Watt IFD540 (retail price $16,995) will begin shipping in the second half of 2012; a 16-Watt upgrade costs $4,995. Integrated Taws-B will be available for $7,995. In keeping with the goal of making its avionics easy to use, Avidyne retains dedicated buttons and line-select keys in the IFD540 so pilots can use either the touchscreen or physical controls. The IFD540 includes Avidyne’s TSO-C146c SBAS/LPV FMS with GeoFill waypoint nomination and FMS Vectors capability, which eliminates flight-plan suspension associated with previous-generation systems. Other IFD540 features include Avidyne CMax approach charts and airport diagrams, standard Taws, 8.33-kHz frequency spacing and two-channel VHF com and nav radios.