Avionics Guide Helps AirVenture Shoppers

If one of the reasons you’re going to EAA AirVenture later this month is to shop for (or leave drool on) avionics, be prepared to be amazed at the length and breadth of the selection. The electronics sector has exploded in recent years with everything from synthetic vision and weather products to angle-of-attack indicators, and, unless you’ve made up your mind exactly what you’re looking for, you could end up overwhelmed by the choices. Now, the Aircraft Electronics Association doesn’t want you to be driven back to steam gauges out of sheer frustration so it’s prepared a handbook, The Pilot’s Guide to Avionics, to help you sort through the selection and, we hope, the hype. The 2004 version makes its debut at Oshkosh and includes articles on “hot topics” like weather, TAWS, glass cockpits and new products. It also has a glossary of avionics and articles aimed at steering pilots in the right direction (to AEA members, no doubt) in making their avionics choices. If you miss it at Oshkosh, the AEA will be distributing it at all the major shows through the rest of the year or you can get yours on the AEA’s Web site.