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Another EFIS Question

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4RCSIMMONS(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:21 pm Post subject: Another EFIS Question

I was reading this evening about some of the electrical devices that simulate the gyro instruments by 2 different means for an EFIS.



Simply put it is stated that they are not intended for IFR due to the abrupt movements during turbulent conditions.



These movements can render your heading and artificial horizon unreliable under turbulent conditions.



This leaves me puzzled!  Are those of you using EFIS's amd woth experience aware of this situation on theirs regardless of brands for us home builders?



If I want my plane to be true IFR capable, and the lower lines we use on our home built planes say this, I think it's a six pack that is needed. The cost is not that much different.



I love the easy EMIS portions of the se packages but Ireally want the reliability if my intruments at all times.



Any decent comments would be appreciated.



OHHH Do not archive



Thanks,

Rich Simmons

601 XL



 [quote][b]

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craig(at)craigandjean.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:38 pm Post subject: Another EFIS Question

One of the options for the MGL EFIS models is a box containing the same British Aerospace optical ring gyros used in certified instruments. But it costs $2,150 compared to $950 for the box based on Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) “gyros”.  

   

-- Craig  

       

From: owner-zenith-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-zenith-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Rich Simmons

 Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 9:21 PM

 To: zenith-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Another EFIS Question  

  

  

     

I was reading this evening about some of the electrical devices that simulate the gyro instruments by 2 different means for an EFIS.

 

 Simply put it is stated that they are not intended for IFR due to the abrupt movements during turbulent conditions.

 

 These movements can render your heading and artificial horizon unreliable under turbulent conditions.

 

 This leaves me puzzled!  Are those of you using EFIS's amd woth experience aware of this situation on theirs regardless of brands for us home builders?

 

 If I want my plane to be true IFR capable, and the lower lines we use on our home built planes say this, I think it's a six pack that is needed. The cost is not that much different.

 

 I love the easy EMIS portions of the se packages but Ireally want the reliability if my intruments at all times.

 

 Any decent comments would be appreciated.

 

 OHHH Do not archive

 

 Thanks,

 Rich Simmons

 601 XL

 

   

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       [quote][b]

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psm(at)att.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:08 pm Post subject: Another EFIS Question

Hi Rich,



I don't have the flying experience you mentioned, but perhaps my 

computer design experience can help shed some light on this question.



The problem with electronic devices of this nature is they must 

sample the sensors with computers and use software to interpret the 

information.  The situation is then displayed on the screen and the 

process starts all over again.



There are two huge variables in the process I just described.  The 

performance of the computer and the software design.  I would guess 

the manufacturer and  FAA spend a huge amount of effort on certified 

EFIS products to see that the combination of computers and software 

produces a working product that will stand up to the IFR 

environment.  This kind of review is not done on the experimental 

devices we tend to put into experimental airplanes.  We save a lot of 

money, but risk having poor performance when we most need great 

performance from these devices.



I can't tell you which EFIS products will give you good performance 

and which ones will let you down in a pinch.  You probably will do 

better buying a very popular product such as Dynon rather than a new 

entry in the field.  This is because the software for any new device 

of this type takes a while to become stable and a new product or low 

volume product will probably have more bugs than you want.  I also 

think it would be unwise to choose your EFIS based on the lowest price.



Of course you could stick with the 6 pack and mixed vacuum and 

electric instruments.  This is the tried and true method that has 

worked well since world war 2.  This approach is expensive compared 

with modern glass panel technology and a lot more difficult to use 

and install.   I suspect once you use the glass panel approach you 

won't want to go back to the 6 pack scan to keep your plane upright.



On the other hand, I attended an AOPA ASF presentation last night 

where some alarming comments were made.  With the new equipment being 

more and more popular you would think the safety records would 

improve.  That just hasn't been the case.  We still have the same 

level and kind of accidents as always.  Another twist is the recent 

notion that single pilot IFR is a bad idea and considered mostly 

unsafe.  This wasn't true in the old 6 pack days when single pilot 

IFR was a very common practice.  I suspect the computer interfaces 

are so complicated and difficult to work that the lone IFR pilot 

can't devote enough attention to be a computer operator while still 

flying the plane.



I hope all this helps.



Paul

XL getting close

At 08:20 PM 2/18/2009, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  I was reading this evening about some of the electrical devices that 

simulate the gyro instruments by 2 different means for an EFIS.



Simply put it is stated that they are not intended for IFR due to 

the abrupt movements during turbulent conditions.



These movements can render your heading and artificial horizon 

unreliable under turbulent conditions.

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Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

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