No More Bad Attitude or Sucking Wind

Aspen Avionics, the Albuquerque-based avionics concern offers the following important information to operators of its Evolution Pro MAX PFD; Evolution E5; Evolution 2000 MAX; and Evolution 2500 MAX systems:

The majority of FAA approvals of single Evolution Pro MAX PFD or Evolution E5 systems allow aircraft owners to remove the attitude indicator from the retrofitted aircraft. Attitude indicators, most commonly, are driven pneumatically, by a vacuum system.

Turn and bank, altimeter, and airspeed indicators must, however, be retained in aircraft retrofitted with Aspen’s Evolution Pro MAX PFD or Evolution E5 systems as requisite backups.

Conversely, FAA approval of Aspen’s Evolution 2000 MAX or Evolution 2500 MAX systems permits aircraft owners to remove the vacuum system and all backup indicators—including vertical speed, turn and bank, altitude, airspeed and attitude indicators—from aircraft retrofitted with subject systems.

Removal of cumbersome iron-gyros and the fiddly vacuum systems by which they’re driven results in a more modern looking cockpit, a streamlined instrument scan, reduced aircraft weight, and improved system reliability.

Aspen Avionics’ director of sales, Scott Smith, states: “This is a game-changing development for aircraft owners looking for an affordable, full-featured, single or multi-display installation allowing removal of outdated mechanical attitude indicators. We are cleaning up panels while reducing our customers’ maintenance costs and giving them some extra weight savings as well. For near the cost of repair or replacement of the mechanical indicators, aircraft owners can choose to replace them with a single or multi-display Aspen system, and get a full two-year warranty. Additionally, Aspen’s philosophy is to consistently provide an affordable upgrade path for all our products throughout their lifetime.”

Key features and advantages of Aspen’s Evolution 2000 MAX and Evolution 2500 MAX systems include:

•  Backup attitude indicator not required; the removal of the supporting vacuum system can be accomplished by the installer.
• Rechargeable extended duration backup battery
• Consolidation of traditional attitude indicator and HSI into a single larger display.
• Synthetic Vision included at no cost for Pro MAX PFD, and multi-function displays (Synthetic Vision not available on E5).
• Compatibility with existing avionics and most industry standard autopilots. *
• Patented, unique form-fit design slides easily into existing panel cutouts.

 Removal of the backup attitude indicator from aircraft retrofitted with Aspen Avionics EFD-1000 Pro MAX PFD or Evolution E5 ** systems is predicated upon subject aircraft retaining functioning installations of the following:

• Magnetic compass
• Altimeter
• Airspeed indicator
• Electric turn and bank indicator
• Graphical IFR GPS (with moving map)

 Note: FAA Advisory Circular permits an electric attitude indicator may be a substitute for the turn and bank indicator if it has its own battery source.

*Removal of attitude indicator may require an EA100 autopilot adapter if aircraft has an attitude-based autopilot installed, e.g., Bendix/King or Century.

**Attitude indicator may need to be retained for flight director annunciations in some installations. 

FMI: www.aspenavionics.com