As an avionics guy, Im often asked if I would rather deal with total avionics failure in an all-glass or round-gauge aircraft. My preference is all-glass because total failure is pretty unlikely. And even if it did happen, the situation shouldnt be debilitating. With dual batteries, dual electrical systems, standby instruments and a portable GPS, theres little reason why you couldnt put down safely. But for an older retrofit panel, the risks are elevated. 288
Avionics Gone Wild
As an avionics guy, Im often asked if I would rather deal with total avionics failure in an all-glass or round-gauge aircraft. My preference is all-glass because total failure is pretty unlikely. And even if it did happen, the situation shouldnt be debilitating. With dual batteries, dual electrical systems, standby instruments and a portable GPS, theres little reason why you couldnt put down safely. But for an older retrofit panel, the risks are elevated. You dont have to be an avionics tech to understand what makes your panel tick, but you do need to know what can make it a ticking time bomb. Perhaps you pushed the wrong button sequence for an autopilot-coupled approach, or maybe an encounter with ice has turned your Aspen PFD into an expensive tic-tac-toe game.
Key Takeaways:
- Operating modern glass cockpits and autopilots requires meticulous pilot interaction to prevent critical errors in programming and mode selection, such as incorrect altitude entry or GPSS activation.
- Pilots must be highly vigilant in recognizing both overt and subtle avionics failures, including interpreting warning messages, instrument flags, and the status of critical components like pitch trim.
- Despite system redundancies, a comprehensive backup plan is essential, requiring pilots to understand their aircraft's specific standby systems and practice using them for safe operation during failures.
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