Hot New Avionics Offerings for 2006
by Dale Smith |
| To paraphrase a popular saying from the 1970s — “Avionics is where the action is.” Just look at most
of the “new” airplanes introduced recently. If it has a propeller on it, chances are all the advancements
are found in the instrument panel.In fact, the marketing and sales people at Beechcraft, Cessna, Mooney and
Piper should be sending the folks at Avidyne, Garmin and other manufacturers thank-you cards. While
the airframe OEMs and their avionics partners certainly have brought new life into factory-new airplanes,
there’s also plenty of activity in the after-market segments. (more) |
| |
In-Flight Entertainment Systems - Buyer's Guide
by Paul Novacek |
| The takeoff and landing is always exciting, but with the global-reaching range of the latest corporate
jets, there’s plen-ty of time between those takeoffs and landings. So, step into the world of in-flight
entertainment systems, or IFE. A growth out of music players of long past, the current offerings rival
any home theater.An in-flight entertainment system contains three basic functions: audio, video and
flight data. Some would argue an air-borne office constitutes entertain-ment, but for the purposes of
this comparison, let’s stick to the big three forms of traditional “entertainment.” (more) |
| |
The Brains Behind Glass Cockpit Beauty
by Gary Picou |
| Today’s avionics are marvels of technology, integration, application and innovation. They bring
safety and conve-nience to the pilot in new ways, while maintaining a consistent structure that is
recognizable to any pilot with a few hours under his belt.This entire slick human inter-face, which
often looks like a Microsoft flight simulator, didn’t just happen. All of this technology has taken
years of work, study, research and development. So, what happens behind the panel — from design to
signals in space — that allows pilots to fly behind a glass panel? (more) |
| |
Cabin Connectivity: Getting Connected to High-Speed Data
by Dale Smith |
| Turn back the clock some 25 or so years and the battle cry of the American teen-ager was, “I want
my MTV!” Now, those same people have gradu-ated off their parents’ couches and into the cabins of
their companies' business jets, and they’ve changed their collective mantra to: “I want my high-speed
data connection.” Just look at the proliferation of Wi-Fi “hotspots.” Heck, you can even get
“connected” at McDonald’s. (more) |
| |
Why You Need an Engine Monitor
by Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside |
| For most operators, engines remain the most expensive and complicated single com-ponent in an
aircraft. Even the smallest uncertified two-cylinder engine powering an ultralight is made from
a dizzying array of parts that must work and play well together for hours at a time — then they sit
around, unused, for days or weeks. (more) |
| |
Got IFDs? Integrated Flight Decks
by Dale Smith |
| Where once they were found only in the top-end air transport aircraft, today they are found in the
panels of nearly every new aircraft type. In fact, it would be difficult to find a production airplane
that doesn’t have them — “them” being integrated flight decks, or IFDs. The more familiar marketing
monikers include G1000, Entegra, Pro Line 21 and EPIC.What exactly are IFDs? There is still a bit
of uncertainty among aircraft owners as to what constitutes a “real” integrated flight deck from
a “nearly” integrated flight display. (more) |
| |
ADS-B: A Datalink for Everyone
by Julie K. Boatman |
| Imagine climbing into your single-engine airplane, starting up, then turning on the avionics master.
As the boxes begin warming up, a stream of information pours onto a screen the size of a CD jewel box.
You enter your flight plan and zoom out the display on the map page to see weather along the route.
A green dot marks your destination and you smile — you’re good to go, the ceiling and visibility
indicate good VFR conditions. (more) |
| |
Retrofit Autopilot Systems - Buyers Guide
by Paul Novacek |
A Little History
It all began with an invention developed by Elmer Sperry in the early 1900s — the
gyroscope. This device uses a spinning mass that keeps its orientation while an airplane moves around it,
which is the basic principle underlying today’s artificial horizon gyro. Originally designed to help
ships steer a steady course, Elmer’s son, Lawrence Sperry, used his father’s invention to successfully
launch an aircraft company specializing in aircraft control systems. Along the way, the Lawrence
Sperry Aircraft Co. built the Messenger airplane and gyro-based instruments that are still in use today.
Sperry began experiments in the early 1920s using gyros to sense attitude and using motors to drive the
controls, resulting in the precursor of the modern-day autopilot.
(more) |
| |
What is the Future of Traffic Advisory Systems?
by Ric Peri |
| Discussions about the shut-down of traffic information systems at various sites around the country
have created quite a stir, and many pilots have questions, such as: What traffic advisory systems
are available to light general aviation aircraft? What are the differences in the systems? And where
are the 23 sites projected to be shut down?Traffic information service (TIS), automatic dependent
surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) and traffic information service-broad-cast (TIS-B) all provide traffic
advisory information. (more) |
