Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2011-2012 - 70

The FAA rules governing experimental aircraft construction and approval are extremely flexible in what builders can use, resulting in advances in engines, engine ignition and fuel systems, and in the equipment installed in the panels.

EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT GLASS
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These products of the experimental-aviation community led to the development of the Cirrus Design line of composite aircraft, the Lancair/Columbia designs now called “Corvalis” by new owner Cessna, and in time to the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787, airliners with significant composite content . The FAA rules governing experimental aircraft construction and approval are extremely flexible in what builders can use, resulting in advances in engines, engine ignition and fuel systems, and in the equipment installed in the panels . Experimental-aircraft builders and owners benefit from a host of manufacturers who design and manufacture some of aviation’s most-innovative glass-panel hardware . These systems, unapproved in general, offer experimental-aircraft owners lower-cost access to all the wonders of the glass-cockpit revolution available to certificated-aircraft owners – and then some – to go with their projects . Primary flight displays; multifunction displays; enginemonitoring functions, hazard-avoidance indication, navigation-system enhancements and navigation indication; if it’s available for certificated aircraft, experimental aircraft owners have access to it as well . The FAA keeps a close-to-hands-off approach regarding experimental aircraft, serving only to inspect the airplane for obvious threats to safety – but does not rule on the airworthiness of the airplane . That’s why experimental aircraft must carry a visible placard warning passengers of its status as an experimental aircraft not certified as airworthy by the FAA . Some makers of gear for certificated aircraft also make comparable gear lacking technical standards order approvals – and, thus, available at lower costs . And, a number of manufacturers deal in experimen-

tal-only, and with the flexibility they enjoy offer equipment that combines some functions and products in ways not currently found among the approved gear . Makers of hardware for the experimental market often build and test their gear against the applicable TSO – a mark of their recognition of the importance of those standards, even if they stop short of investing the considerable funds required to successfully complete a TSO project . Some owners of type-approved aircraft seek out and install some of these experimental systems to gain the benefits, although the gear can not substitute for equipment required to be approved . These fieldapproved installations of “non-essential” equipment serve to broaden the base for the equipment makers and, indirectly, further benefit the experimental users . Let’s examine some of the functions available in glass systems for experimental aircraft . PFD, MFD & More In the article “Glass Retrofits for Type Certificated Aircraft” (see page 50), we examine the functions and virtues of the modern primary flight display and multifunction display . To review, here are the basics of both . The PFD shares the primary-flight-instruments functions hinted at in the name: attitude indicator, turn indicator, directional gyro, airspeed indicator, vertical speed indicator and altimeter . Six primary flight instruments are packaged into a single box for display on a common screen, plus, the Slip/Skid Ball is typically packaged in the turn indicator . And, designers also have blended into the PFD functions the jobs of multiple navigation indicators, our old friend the course deviation indicator, even the slavedcompass and navigation functions of an electronic horiContinued on page 72…

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Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2011-2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2011-2012
