Avionics and instrument systems, alongside paint and interior are the main ways to refurbish an aircraft. The difference is that avionics gives something back when it aids in each and every flight.
O1 – ADS-b Compliance
As of February 2017 all Australian registered IFR aircraft must be ADS-b compliant – having already upgraded many aircraft to comply with this standard we can advise the best way to achieve the desired result. From a stand-alone solution or in conjunction with a larger upgrade we can help advise the best course of action. ADS-b Traffic IN is also a very viable option.
02- GPS / FMS / Radio Stack
The heart of an avionics system the radio stack has the most options available, depending on requirements (And available space in the panel) the options can be daunting, but with experience in using as well as installing equipment we can make the decisions easier. And as authorised dealers of all current gen avionics manufacturers we can plan a system that satisfies requirements in the most cost effective way.
03 – Glass Panel (Primary flight display)
There are many advantages to upgrading an old school 6-pack set of flight instrument to a glass panel PFD system.
Reliability – solid state gyros and air data computer failures are very rare and are also not reliant on engine driven vac pumps, also standalone battery backup is also common with glass panels.
Maintenance costs – All analogue flight instruments have moving parts (Gyros in particular) that inherently wear with use.
More flight info – As PFDs are also air data computers, when coupled with a GPS data such as airborne wind speed and direction are constantly available. Also as the PFD will most likely be the auto pilot heading source built in GPSS computers give new functionality to older autopilots.
Safety – With terrain avoidance and optional features such a Synthetic vision, situational awareness has never been so high.
04 – Autopilot
Autopilots reduce flight workloads more than any other avionics, but when they aren’t working 100% then they can be worse than nothing at all. Having confidence in an autopilot is everything, and while we’re very experienced in keeping existing autopilots at their peak – there is also merit in an entirely new installation. Even if your aircraft has never had an autopilot there is almost certainly an option for your airframe.