In this photo of my former Bonanzas panel, top, you can see it includes analog instruments along with VOR- and ADF-based nav systems, and a lone portable GPS on the yoke. Most of it operated intuitively and without the need to navigate various sub-menus. Even the airplanes sophisticated-for-its-day Century IV autopilot with yaw damper is relatively simple to operate.
The author contrasts the intuitive, analog instrumentation of their former aircraft panel with the menu-driven complexity of modern avionics.
Modern GPS systems like the Garmin 430, while capable, demand significant time and consistent practice to achieve proficiency due to their menu-based operation.
Maintaining operational proficiency with these complex, menu-driven avionics is particularly challenging when flying infrequently.
This proficiency challenge is expected to be even greater with highly automated panels such as the Garmin G1000.
In this photo of my former Bonanzas panel, top, you can see it includes analog instruments along with VOR- and ADF-based nav systems, and a lone portable GPS on the yoke. Most of it operated intuitively and without the need to navigate various sub-menus. Even the airplanes sophisticated-for-its-day Century IV autopilot with yaw damper is relatively simple to operate.
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