Avionics News May 2023 - 33

S T O R Y B Y D A L E
W
S M I T H
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,
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
they don't require a vacuum system. While that in itself is
enough to make the switch, the new instruments all come
with built-in 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
" Owners should stay aware of ongoing software upgrades
provided by the manufacturers, " Conroy said. " There's no
charge for the software itself, but avionics shops will charge
you a small amount for the labor to do the work.
" It's the only way to ensure your instruments are delivering
the latest capabilities offered by the manufacturer.
Continued on following page
avionics news * may 2023 33
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. "
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.
Avionics News May 2023

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