Upgrading Avionics in the New-to-You Airplane

Upgrading the instrument panel on a new-to-you airplane works much like remodeling your house. These days, aircraft owners are focusing on upgrading their panels with the latest in glass technology.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, December 08, 2023 at 07:53 AM ET

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An early model Cirrus gets an Aspen Avionics upgrade, featuring the Evolution series PFD and MFD models. [Courtesy of Aspen Avionics]

Key Takeaways:

Aircraft owners commonly upgrade their instrument panels, moving from older "round-dial" systems to initial glass cockpits, and now to the latest in glass technology, often to enhance IFR capabilities or replace obsolete systems.
Companies like Aspen Avionics and Advanced Flight Systems facilitate these upgrades, offering solutions from plug-in EFIS replacements (e.g., Aspen's "Trade In Trade Up" program) to integrated glass panels for both certified and experimental aircraft.
Panel upgrades are often a modular process to manage costs, with installations frequently timed with annual inspections; owners are advised to plan carefully, utilize online training resources, and practice with new systems.

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When you purchases a new-to-you home, it is common to live with it as-is for a bit, and then you start to think about remodeling to make it more suitable to your needs and lifestyle. Upgrading the instrument panel on a new-to-you airplane works the same way. You might have purchased it with a VFR panel, then decided to add IFR capability. Or perhaps the technology has evolved to the extent that your IFR panel is obsolete. It’s time to see what’s out there in panel upgrades, and what will work in your airplane.

Ten years ago, the most common panel conversions were from round dial, also known as legacy or steam gauge panels, to initial glass cockpits. According to Aspen Avionics in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Advanced Flight Systems in Canby, Oregon, these days, aircraft owners are focusing on upgrading their panels with the latest in glass technology.