Avionics News January 2012 - 41

DIGITAL VOICE RECORDER This is very handy if a pilot flies alone in the instrument flight rules environment or in busy visual flight rules corridors. The recorder continuously records the comm radio. Should the pilot miss a call or an air traffic control direction, he/she can replay the last minute or so (the length of recording time varies by manufacturer) with the touch of a button. CELLPHONE INTERFACE Many of the higher-end audio panels provide the capability to interface with a cellphone, either via plug or wirelessly with BlueTooth. It’s handy for getting ground clearances before you crank up the engines. Remember, as tempting as it might be, the use of a cellphone in-flight is not permitted. Not that your customers would ever do it. SPLIT MODE If the pilot flies with a co-pilot, this handy feature will allow the pilot and the right seater to communicate separately on the comm 1 and comm 2 radios. This will enable the pilot to monitor ATC, while the co-pilot monitors the ATIS at the arrival airport or calls ahead to the fixed base operator. AUTO SQUELCH This handy feature eliminates the need to manually fine-tune the squelch. The unit senses ambient noise and adjusts the volume accordingly. DIGITAL MUSIC INPUTS Like the cellphone connectivity, many units enable pilots to connect an iPod, iPad or other MP3 device directly into the audio panel using either an adapter plug or BlueTooth. Also, make sure the unit your customer buys automatically cuts out the music inputs when he/she gets a call from ATC. THEY’RE ALL GOOD, BUT WHICH ONE IS RIGHT? Working your way through the maze of features and capabilities can be a daunting task. But, like any

upgrade you make to your customer’s airplane, it’s best to start at the beginning. “The pilot should first decide what features he wants that his current audio panel does not have,” said Rod Truglia, program manager at Southeast Aerospace. “Then decide the price range he or she wants and work with your avionics shop to determine which model best fits your needs. Typically, pilots tend to over spend on the things they don’t need and under spend on the things they do. “They have a friend who just installed a new audio panel, and the owner will come and say he wants some-

… Audio panels have evolved in a big way. Today, these once-simple units have become highly sophisticated audio controllers, offering everything from standard nav/comm switching to voice-activated intercoms, digital voice recorders and satellite radio, MP3 music and cellphone interfaces, just to name a few.
thing better, even though they probably won’t ever use all the bells and whistles.” “Today, to select the right audio panel without spending too much, you have to ask yourself a lot of questions,” added Brad Miller, avionics manager at Gulf Coast Avionics. “What features do you really need for your flying? There’s a lot that goes into making the right selection.” Miller said some of the biggest factors in making the right choice are often things the owner or pilot doesn’t think about. “Does the autopilot require audio? Do you have a radar altimeter? How many unswitched sources can a particular audio panel handle? These are things that most owners don’t consider, and an avionics shop is going to be able to help them understand.
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Avionics News January 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News January 2012