Glass Cockpits, EFIS Description
Flight and engine instruments used to be the old school style type round gauges we all (well most of us) learned to fly with. These are familiar to everyone. The latest trend in general aviation is electronic displays in cockpits and aircraft are then usually called 'New Generation' by their manufacturers.
You will see addon EFIS like the Dynon Avionics series to integrated systems with 8", 10" and even 15" color LCD screens (daylight visibile!) from Garmin, where even the radio's (COM and NAV), transponders and engine instruments are fully integrated.
These can be coupled to an autopilot (integrated too) and programmed to fly the entire route and instrument approach. You still would have to do the landing yourself.
Installing an EFIS system saves weight and cleans up your panel. It also means that you could do without a vacuum system and remove the hoses, pump and hardware (more weight savings). All of this could mean a single point of failure in the cockpit.
But even with the sixpack we normally used to have, would you go flying if your altimeter did not work?
Electronic Flight Instrument System
An EFIS usually consists of a number of components. They are either installed as separate modules in the aircraft or, as in basic systems, all in one unit. This will have a cost and weight savings aspect. These components are (but not limited to):
- Primary Flight Display, PFD
- Multi Function Display, MFD
- Communications Radio, usually with 8,33 kHz channel spacing
- VHF Navigation Radio for ILS systems
- Fully Integrated Autopilot
- Engine Indications and Crew Alerting System, EICAS
- Attitude and Heading Reference System, AHRS
- Air Data Computer, ADC
- Angle of Attack, AOA
- Global Positioning System, GPS Receiver
- Remote Magneto, Electronic Compass or Fluxgate
- XM Weather or NEXRAD
- Synthetic Vision
- Terrain Avoidance Systems
- Electronic Flight Bag, EFB
As you may have expected, these systems can become really complex in terms of connecting all the wiring, antenna cables and such. It could well become too much for the first time builder and having a specialized shop assisting you will be your guarantee for success.
Note that with all these different types of EFIS systems availabe on the market today, you as the pilot will need some form of training to become familiar with the multitude of options available in the EFIS software, especially so when flying IFR in IMC conditions.
We will discuss the most common components as each and every manufacturer will have their own set of options in the systems and ways of displaying data on the screens. This might become confusing.
G1000 rating
Some flight schools offer training on certain EFIS in aircraft, for example G1000 in a Cessna 172. And they will only allow such aircraft be rented by pilots with a minimum number of flight hours with the EFIS. This could pave the way for a new type rating for pilots: G1000 rated...
EFIS Tablets
Recently (Sep 2011) Garmin has brought out their answer to all the tablets (Apple's iPAD and Samsung's Galaxy, but there are more) with navigation software. Its the Garmin Area 795/796 touchscreen, fully equiped with 3D vision and navigation maps with safetaxi diagrams. Well worth a look!
