Readback: June 2012

Monday, August 04, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Several pilots express a strong preference for traditional analog gauges and familiar cockpit configurations over complex, modern glass cockpits, prioritizing comfort and mastery.
There's a call for more efficient and courteous radio communication, urging pilots to cancel IFR clearances promptly when appropriate and to avoid asserting priority with "X-mile final" calls at uncontrolled airports.
The article advocates for customizable avionics, allowing pilots to prioritize frequently used functions and hide less-needed features to streamline operations.
It clarifies that modern WAAS GPS systems often render traditional DME monitoring unnecessary for IFR flights, highlighting the evolving landscape of navigation technology.

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Steam (Gauge) Power
Your last editorial really resonated with me (“Black Ops for Black Boxes,” April 2012 IFR). I have been flying on and off for over 50 years, and almost always behind round gauges; sometimes not very many of them.

When I bought my new Commander 114TC in 1999, I opted for what was then pretty much state of the art. Lots of conventional, round gauges plus two swanky, new, GNS 430s. Thirteen years on, the configuration is pretty much unchanged, except for an electric backup AI and the addition of WX weather to the Garmins. I do worry a bit about gyro failure, but I have dual vacuum pumps and know that I can hand fly well enough using the backup and the Garmins. I’ve thought about adding WAAS and also traffic info, but as I almost always fly IFR and into fields with at least one ILS, I’ve yet to bite those bullets.