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Avionics for Your LSA

Things to consider when you upgrade your panel.

[Credit: Dynon Avionics]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Upgrading avionics in Special Light Sport Aircraft (SLSA) uniquely requires original manufacturer approval to avoid reclassifying the aircraft to Experimental LSA (ELSA), which prohibits commercial use like rental or instruction.
  • Dynon Avionics has pioneered and evolved LSA avionics with advanced Electronic Flight Information Systems (EFIS) like SkyView, offering features such as synthetic vision, customizable displays, and color-coded engine monitoring to enhance pilot awareness and safety.
  • Selecting new avionics for an LSA upgrade necessitates considering the aircraft's mission, budget, and panel space, with critical emphasis on redundancy (e.g., dual displays, ADAHRS, battery backup) for IFR or extensive VFR flights.
  • Dynon simplifies the installation process for owners, offering a network of authorized service centers and providing pre-built panel and wiring kits for ELSA aircraft to streamline upgrades.
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There comes a time in every aircraft owner’s life when they decide it is time to upgrade the instrument panel. This process is neither quick nor inexpensive, and there are pitfalls along the way—especially if you own a light sport aircraft. Among the common traps are finding enough panel space to create your dreamscreen—and getting the required approvals for the changes.

Michael Schofield, director of marketing for Dynon Avionics, says that they often get telephone calls from owners of SLSAs (built to a conforming model by an OEM) who want to change the avionics and are surprised to learn that only the manufacturer of the LSA can approve the change, unlike the normal supplemental type certificate process.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

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