Let’s Talk About a La Carte Avionics

All instrument panels aren’t created equal.

Les Abend

Friday, July 10, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The author's 54-year-old Piper Arrow with its modern glass panel. [Credit: Les Abend]

Key Takeaways:

The author undertook a significant and costly avionics upgrade for his aging Piper Arrow due to safety concerns and outdated equipment, which resulted in a "domino effect" of component replacements and a complete panel redesign.
The primary challenge identified was how to safely train and become proficient with the new, highly customized avionics, as general aviation lacks the standardized training and uniform cockpits found in airline operations.
The author explored various training methods, including manuals, online videos, and manufacturer courses (often at an additional cost), and noted the need for practical operational experience.
He suggests the FAA should consider implementing a logbook entry requirement, similar to instrument proficiency, for hours flown with new avionics before operating in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), stressing that all instrument panels are unique.

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When my wife agreed to an extensive avionics upgrade to our Piper Arrow, I was pleased that she immediately understood the safety value of the endeavor despite the eye-watering cost. Based on our experience of a vacuum pump failure, an intermittent dual comm failure, and the fact that the entire system was aging, it was time for a change.

Avionics shops don’t just install a standard instrument panel template for a 54-year-old airplane. It’s a carefully thought-out strategy of integrating the new with the old, dependent almost completely on customer desire and budget. Selection and placement of the electronics is a la carte. Although the shopping process to determine the best value for our airplane was exciting, it alerted me to an interesting challenge.