Electric reality?
Technical
There’s never been a better time to upgrade your panel. We look at the brightest and the best across a wide range of functions... and costs
Panel Dreams
W
hether you’re browsing around on the internet, or checking out the latest equipment on a manufacturer’s stand while visiting a show, the lure of the latest avionics for your instrument panel can be strong. When it comes to significant panel work on some certified aircraft, a dream panel update could very easily end up costing more money than the aircraft is worth. The price of that tempting screen alone is never the whole story, as there’ll be plenty of additional kit needed – and plenty of labour to turn plans into an installed reality – not to mention the inevitable mission creep (while I’m at it, I might as well…). An appropriate avionics upgrade will add value to an aircraft and make it easier to sell, but you’ll have to measure the result of a truly extravagant spend in satisfaction, rather than sterling or dollars. The good
38 | FLYER | December 2021
news is that most finance companies are happy to lend money for your must-have avionics upgrade. It’s worth a reminder that your shopping options will vary depending on the type of aircraft you operate, and the country where it is registered. There’s been massive progress in manufacturers developing AML STCs for the installation of modern avionics into certified aircraft, and for FAA-registered types, the choice is by far the largest, with Garmin and Dynon big screen systems going head-to-head. If you have a UK CAA-certified aircraft, then you’ll need equipment which has gained the corresponding CAA or EASA approvals, and unfortunately, this is where you start to see your choices shrink, as not all manufacturers have pursued European approvals. If you operate a UK Permit aircraft, the choices are much wider, and LAA Engineering has a technical leaflet to help with making choices when it comes to panel-mounted electronics, from big screen primary units to smaller backup units.
