Budget EFIS

Monday, April 20, 2020 at 01:42 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The market for EFIS retrofits has become significantly more affordable, primarily due to new AML-STC certification processes, enabling aircraft owners to upgrade from vacuum systems, save weight, and enhance IFR safety and capabilities.
Several manufacturers offer diverse EFIS options, including Garmin's G5 and TSO-certified GI 275, Aspen's E5, and uAvionix's AV-30 (pending FAA approval), each varying in form factor, primary instrument approval, and integration capabilities.
These modern EFIS units provide critical flight data, EHSI functions, and often interface with existing navigators and autopilots, but potential buyers should thoroughly evaluate compatibility, installation costs, display clarity, and features before making a purchase decision.

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Pricey EFIS retrofits have been available for years, but today the market offers more affordable options. Plus, most all of the choices permit removing the vacuum system, saving weight and space with an all-electric instrument suite totally immune to dreaded vacuum pump failures.

New standards for instrument certification allow blanket approval via AML-STC (supplemental type certification via an approved model list) instead of the age-old TSO certification. This simpler process yields some prices well below $5000. Compared to the cost of maintaining iron gyros and vacuum systems, that’s enticing buyers to pull the trigger on EFIS, and ultimately enhance IFR safety and capabilities in even the most basic aircraft. Let’s see what Aspen, Garmin, and uAvionix have to offer.