industry REAL-WORLD AVIONICS Mechanical gyros: repair or replace? S T O R Y B Y J O H N D . R U L E Y I'M SURE the average avionics technician (or shop owner) reading the title of this article will know this is an avionics matter. While mechanical instruments can be removed and reinstalled by airframe and powerplant mechanics, they function as attitude sources for the autopilot and display deviation information from navigational aids, which brings troubleshooting and avionics into the picture. In many cases, there are now digital replacement options that offer significant operational benefits, including much better reliability. 40 avionics news * november 2014