Mechanical attitude indicators and the heavy, troublesome vacuum pumps that drive them are quickly being replaced by a new generation of all-in-one electronic flight instruments—and for good reason. The modern instruments are more reliable, less expensive, lighter, and provide far more useful information.
In addition to displaying the airplane’s attitude (pitch and bank), these electronic flight instruments also show altitude, airspeed, heading, rate of climb/descent, coordination, and course deviation. This critical flight information is derived from an internal, solid-state attitude and heading reference system (AHRS).
These AHRS devices are far more reliable than traditional vacuum pumps, gimbals, and other failure-prone mechanical systems, and they won’t tumble during unusual attitudes. The new electronics also can be powered by back-up batteries in case of a failure of the aircraft’s electrical system.
Traditionally, only products meeting a technical standard order (TSO) could be installed in certified aircraft, while non-TSO products offered more robust features to Experimental and Light Sport aircraft. The FAA has moved rapidly in recent years to make this potentially lifesaving equipment widely available across a broad spectrum of general aviation aircraft.
options
In cockpit
A sampling of EFI offerings
Garmin G5: A 3.5-inch LCD display that replaces traditional instruments and can be paired with a second G5 for redundancy.
Dynon D10A: A 4-inch, color LCD with six buttons to allow pilots to perform flight-related functions, configure the instrument, and perform initial calibrations.
L3 Trilogy: A solid-state instrument that provides backup for attitude, altitude, and airspeed information.
Sandia SAI 340 Quattro: A four-in-one standby instrument that gives airspeed, attitude, altitude, and slip indications.
