Before the introduction of Loran, GPS and integrated glass panel avionics, airplanes were commonly equipped with one or two VOR systems, perhaps an ADF and sometimes a very handy piece of equipment called DME. Transitioning to a new panel mostly required finding the avionics master switch and figuring out how to enter the digits associated with the VOR, ADF or DME stations into the boxes. But navigation required skilled interpretation of the data provided by the round gauges.
The advancements in avionics technology has made flying a lot easier by providing a lot more information in a format that requires much less interpretation on behalf of the pilot. The systems provide the exact location of the airplane on a moving map and, in many cases, traffic, weather and terrain are also displayed in a format that is very easy to understand. But while the changes in avionics technology have provided pilots with a lot more information in a format that is easier to read, it has made the transition from one airplane to another less streamlined.
