industry AUTOPILOT UPgrades S T O R Y New-generation autopilots offer features and capabilities that can help pilots fly BETTER AND SAFER. Avidyne DFC90 46 avionics news * january 2014 B Y D A L E I S M I T H f I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say, "there's nothing new in general aviation..." well, I'd be able to afford a new airplane - a really nice airplane. There is a lot of new technology in general aviation today, especially in the avionics world. How many aircraft owners have pulled perfectly good radios out of their panel just to put in the latest and greatest glass or radio stack? And who wouldn't? And while radio upgrades have gotten a lot of attention for good reason, there's another system in the aircraft that's more than worthy of consideration for modernization - the autopilot. In fact, upon further inspection, you may just be surprised by what capabilities a new autopilot can bring to your customers' cockpit. Aside from the basic ability to fly an aircraft smoother and more accurately track a GPS course, the newer autopilots offer a host of new technologies and capabilities that can dramatically reduce workload in instrument flight rules and visual flight rules conditions.