Every day avionics get smarter and smaller (and occasionally cheaper). This year’s Oshkosh revealed three devices that push that envelope and might save lives in IMC.
Alternative attitudes
Even though glass panels dominate the pages of aviation magazines and seem almost required to get flight training students in the door of a flight school, there are plenty of pilots and aircraft trolling the skies with conventional instruments. Retrofitting electronic flight information systems (EFIS) often exceeds the hull value of the aircraft. Even adding a simple electronic attitude indicator ends up being over $5000 in investment.
Key Takeaways:
- Oshkosh 2019 highlighted the emergence of new, often affordable, non-certified avionics that significantly enhance pilot safety, particularly for backup instrumentation and IMC flight.
- Devices like Dynon's D1 Pocket Panel and Sagetech's Clarity Dual SV offer cost-effective, portable solutions for backup EFIS and ADS-B with synthetic vision, making advanced capabilities accessible to more pilots.
- More advanced systems, such as Vertical Power's VP-400 with "Runway Seeker," demonstrate a trend towards sophisticated avionics that can provide autonomous 3D glide guidance for engine-out emergencies, hinting at the future of integrated safety features.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
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