At my day job flying airliners I get a lot of idle time for my brain. To avoid the clich of that becoming the devil’s workshop, I try to occupy myself with deep thought. I’m not often successful, but on a recent rather long leg, I was. I’d just reviewed the sensor data for our single FMS and my mind began to look critically at our on-board equipment compared to what we see in general aviation, specifically the whole concept of “dual” installations of identical equipment.
Why Two?
Key Takeaways:
- The article traces the evolution of "dual" avionics installations, from essential twin NAV/COMs for IFR flight to the integration of GPS and MFDs, examining the shifting rationale for redundancy.
- Initially, the traditional "dual" mindset led to installations like twin Garmin GNS units, offering operational flexibility but with often questionable genuine GPS redundancy benefits at the time.
- Modern integrated systems, such as the Garmin GTN 650/750 series, have made dual installations practical and beneficial by combining MFD capabilities, communication, navigation, and genuine GPS redundancy efficiently in a compact package.
- The author suggests that with advanced EFIS/MFD panels, an optimal setup might prioritize one integrated MFD/GPS/NAV/COM paired with a separate NAV/COM, questioning the operational advantage of a second full integrated unit beyond personal preference.
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