Avionics News August 2013 - 23

Fitting square pegs in square
holes can still present a challenge
when the dimensions don’t perfectly
match. But in general, boxes
designed for the center stack tend to
fit well, at least in terms of width.
A host of airplanes still fly
on durable, functional, old VHF
nav/comms – such as the nearly
ubiquitous KX-170B, KX-175,
some Collins Microline and others
once-dominant in the market.
A digital KX-155 from Bendix/
King is a big step up from the
170B; even more so, the KX-165,
and both are plentiful.
Earlier this year, Garmin
unveiled the GTR and GNC
series of VHF comm and nav/
comm radios with features that
include remote tuning through
the G500 and G600 systems,
and reverse look-up to identify
the source of frequencies
received – for example, an airport
automatic terminal information
service, UNICOM (universal
communications) or tower, by the
facility name.
But it’s the all-in-one options,
expensive though they may seem,
that offer the best bang for an old
center stack.
Aspen and Honeywell, Avidyne
and Garmin all have combination
WAAS GPS/VHF comm/VHF nav/
MFD units that solve multiple
needs in one box. Avidyne and
Garmin offer theirs in two sizes at
two price points.
Of course, the budget approach
favors finding a still serviceable
Garmin GNS 430 or GNS 530
that’s received the WAAS upgrade.
While not touchscreen, the savings
will make the system moot for
many aircraft owners.
Most of the new all-in-one
solutions also offer a window on

traffic and terrain, with terrain
often indigenous to the box.
An ADS-B In receiver will give
the operator a window on weather
and traffic with no additional
hardware.
Avionics shops should not forget
to broach the subject of ADS-B
and a transponder solution to work
with whatever GPS solution the
owner favors.

THE RIGHT SIDE
Arguably, the most-neglected
panel enhancement is the least
glamorous: engine monitoring and
alerting.
Today’s technologies make
available all-in-one units here,
as well, with JPI and others
offering color-screen graphic
engine monitoring systems with
approved fuel-quantity and fuelflow readouts – in addition to the
standards of engine health: RPM,
manifold pressure, fuel pressure,
oil pressure, oil temperature,
cylinder head temperature, exhaust
gas temperature – possibly with
the perquisite functions of a fueltotalizer system rolled in for good
measure.
Costs for these capabilities start
around $1,200 and vary according
to the size of the display and the
depth of features, sensors supplied
and installation costs.
But why neglect the heart of
the airplane while spiffing up the
rest of the panel? Why not give
the owner the same color-graphics
technology for engine monitoring
as for flight data and navigation
functions?
The benefit many owners and
pilots most covet are the alerting
and alarm functions typically
indigenous to the better engine
monitor packages. q

Electrical
System
Upgrade
Get Modern
Moving Electrons
Under the Cowl
Not all owners will agree that
a modern digital box is what they
want in their panel – while still
acknowledging they want to improve
their older bird.
Another approach is to convert
the panel to all-electric. Electrically
powered gyros all around, with an
upgraded alternator – or one to
replace an old-technology generator
– can help the owner lose the
suction pump, along with all its
system complications and reliability
limitations.
A standby alternator, such as B&C
Specialty Products, can be fitted
on the engine pad that previously
drove the air pump, while a special
regulator can make easy work of
connecting the standby alternator to
the aircraft’s electrical system.
It may not be a glass cockpit, but it
will be a simpler, more-reliable one
absent of any worries about the air
pump failing.
Upgrading engine instrumentation
is another lower-cost enhancement
that brings tangible benefits to the
owner – without generating huge
invoice amounts.
Today’s modern graphic engine
monitoring systems provide a
depth of information and analysis
unavailable from any analog device
and typically bring alerting and alarm
capabilities equally absent in analog
systems. q
avionics news

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august

2013

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Avionics News August 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News August 2013
