FAA Allows Drop-In Electronic Attitude Indicators

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The FAA has announced (PDF) it will allow drop-in replacement of electronic attitude indicators, without a vacuum-driven backup, as long as there’s a backup power source for the electronic instrument. The new policy applies to aircraft weighing less than 6,000 pounds. The agency said it has determined that electronic attitude indicators are more reliable and not prone to “insidious” gradual failures like their plumbed-in ancestors and it makes sense to make them easy to install. “New policy clarifies that most vacuum driven attitude indicators can easily be replaced with new electronically driven attitude indicators utilizing the minor alteration process,” the agency said in a Facebook post. “This non-regulatory policy statement is part of the FAA’s effort to increase the flexibility of improving aircraft safety quickly and efficiently with new technological advancements.”

Both the news itself and the method of delivery have raised some hopeful eyebrows from commenters that a somewhat more up-to-date FAA is emerging from the political and funding battles endured over the last five years. The FAA’s Facebook page has, to date, focused mainly on internal accolades, upbeat employee participation events and pilot safety messages, and not regulation changes. As with all significant policy changes, the devil is in the details and this kinder, gentler solution to a frustrating upgrade dilemma might not be a slam dunk for everyone. In general, however, as long as the new attitude indicator fits the current hole or there’s another good place to put it, there can be a straight swap as long as backup power is provided.

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