Going All-Electric

These days, vacuum- or air-pressure-driven instruments in an otherwise glass panel seem like the proverbial fish out of water: All that spiffy new technology parked next to stone-age holdovers. Vacuum/air pumps and the unreliable spinning gyros they feed are pre-WWII technology, heavy and involve problematic plumbing systems. The irony has many owners thinking of removing their air/vacuum system entirely. Though it’s not without its drawbacks—which we’ll get to—going all-electric has several benefits, including weight savings, simplified maintenance and troubleshooting, and elimination of the failure-prone dry pumps and plumbing once and for all.

Key Takeaways:

• Pilots are increasingly transitioning from traditional, unreliable vacuum-driven flight instruments to all-electric systems for benefits like weight savings, simplified maintenance, and the elimination of problematic components.
• Making the switch requires careful planning, including selecting an expensive electric backup attitude gyro with a separate 30-minute power source as mandated by regulations (FAR 23.1353(h)).
• The upgrade involves a significant initial investment for new gyros, upgraded alternators, and healthy batteries, but can offer long-term cost savings by avoiding frequent vacuum system repairs.
• Pilots must adapt their flying habits to monitor electrical systems more closely and ensure adequate backup power, including maintaining a healthy primary battery and considering portable backups.

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