AEA Pilot's Guide 2023-2024 - 35

S T O R Y B Y D A L E S M I T H
W
hen I started my aviation career with
Bendix Avionics in 1979 - yes, I am
that old - it was at the cusp of the
electronics revolution for avionics. Analog was on the way
out, and digital radios and electronic flight information
systems were on the way in.
For a bit of trivia, back in 1982, I was one of the first to fly
a fully integrated EFIS system in a business aircraft!
Regardless, it's interesting how digital displays have
evolved. First, they were the same form and fit factor as the
" coffee grinder " ADIs and HSIs they replaced. Then as CRTs
evolved into LCDs, the displays got bigger and bigger. Now
we have laptop-size touchscreen displays in the
panel.
It may come as a surprise to anyone not involved
in avionics on a daily basis, but as consumer
technology continues to evolve, digital instruments
and displays are getting small again. Now you can
pack nearly a 10-inch display's worth of information
into a digital display that fits in a standard 3-inch
instrument cutout.
If an aircraft owner is looking to upgrade a legacy
panel while keeping the budget in check, that's a
good thing. Of course, the benefits don't begin and
end with the cool and capable compact displays.
In fact, one of the biggest pluses begins behind the
panel itself.
Vacuum systems just suck - money
While mechanical instruments have been around
forever and are still quite capable, many of them
depend on one of the most undependable systems
in the airplane - the infamous engine-driven
vacuum system.
" There's no question the vacuum system is going to
fail; the only question is when, " said Dewey Conroy, vice
president of Pacific Coast Avionics. " Failures always happen
at the worst possible time. "
Because the new electronic instruments are digital, they
For less money than you think,
you can upgrade your favorite
piston single with all the latest
digital avionics and instruments.
Photo courtesy of Thom Duncan Avionics
True, but he also added that while the electronic displays
will save a lot of money on future maintenance, it's strongly
recommended that aircraft owners proactively keep abreast
of software version upgrades.
" Owners should stay aware of ongoing software upgrades
don't require a vacuum system. While that in itself is enough
to make the switch, the new instruments all come with built-in
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backup batteries. If an electrical system fails, it gives the pilot
plenty of power to get to the nearest airport.
But even if your vacuum system sucks like a Hoover, the
gyros, gears, and drives inside these two-, three-, and fourdecade-old
ADIs, HSIs, DGs, and the like, are wearing out.
When they do fail, repairs and replacements are expensive.
" The new electronic instruments by Garmin, Aspen, and
uAvionix eliminate these issues forever, " Conroy added. " On
top of that, you're saving weight and eliminating ongoing
maintenance costs in the future. Add the ability to eliminate
the vacuum system, and it's well worth the cost of an
upgrade. "
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AEA Pilot's Guide 2023-2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AEA Pilot's Guide 2023-2024
