That’s a couple of Garmin GI 275 electronic flight instruments retrofitted in a vintage Bonanza. To save the budget, they’re designed for incremental upgrades because they fit in existing three-and-one-quarter-inch instrument cutouts. [Courtesy: Garmin]
Key Takeaways:
Small-screen EFIS (Electronic Flight Instrument System) upgrades offer a cost-effective and less labor-intensive alternative to full glass cockpit retrofits by fitting existing instrument cutouts.
These budget-friendly upgrades, typically costing between $10,000 and $15,000, provide an opportunity to modernize older aircraft, including removing obsolete vacuum systems and addressing other underlying system issues.
Major manufacturers like Garmin (G5, GI 275), uAvionix (AV-30-C), and Aspen (E5) offer a range of small-screen EFIS options, each with distinct features, form factors, and integration capabilities.
While designed to be economical, the total cost of a budget EFIS project can increase due to additional desired avionics upgrades or necessary maintenance for supporting systems.
After cutting a new instrument panel and all the other labor-intensive work that tags along with the retrofit, flagship big-screen Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) upgrades come with eye-watering invoices and lots of downtime.
While these big projects could make sense for some, we suspect the majority of buyers look for ways to keep the budget and complexity in check.
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Larry Anglisano is the former Editor in Chief of sister publication Aviation Consumer magazine. He's an active land, sea and glider pilot, and has over 30 years experience as an avionics tech.
