Replacing back-up Attitude Indicator

[Antoine]

The Sandia is now certified but it will ONLY replace the attitude indicator despite having altitude and airspeed display. I understand we need to wait until 2017 for new FAA rules to happen And then MAYBE we'll be able to remove the backup altimeter and airspeed indicator.

[HPNAviator]

This months aviation consumer has a review of 4 electronic backup attidue indicators that can now be used as primary instruments. The units are from Bendix King, L3, Sandia and Kelly R.C. Allen.

http://www.aviationconsumer.com/issues/ ... 847-1.html

In a recent policy statement, the FAA gave the regulatory green light to replace traditional vacuum-driven attitude instruments with electronically driven replacement indicators. This means you can remove the vacuum system from the aircraft, since the policy doesn’t require a backup spinning gyro. In many cases, you won’t need a backup at all.

Coincidentally, the FAA’s announcement was perfectly timed around the certification of new products, including the long-awaited Sandia SAI-340, L-3 Aviation’s ESI-500 and the soon-to-be-certified BendixKing KI-300.

While some of these were originally intended for use as backup, manufacturers say the FAA’s policy statement makes them legal for primary use. Let’s take a look.

[Star57]

Marc, make your DA40 the funkiest at YBW replace all the backup instruments with this
http://sandia.aero/product/sai-340-quattro/

[rwtucker]

A little pricey maybe but this looks like a nice product. http://www.flysam.com/

[CFIDave]

A little pricey maybe but this looks like a nice product. http://www.flysam.com/

That's what Diamond is installing in DA62s, the newest DA42-VIs, (and maybe DA40s?) to replace the round-dial "steam gauge" backup instruments. It's installed horizontally in the DA42 and vertically in the DA62 (between the G1000 screens).

[rwtucker]

I saw the H & V installations on their website. Nice! Would this be certified to replace the standby AI in the DA40? For the extra information provided, it might be worth the price.

[ellisr]

My backup AI just failed so I need to order a replacement.

Do any of you guys have feedback and price on what you went with to replace the OEM unit? I'm looking for something economical.

Thanks, Russ

[rwtucker]

I'm not sure Russ but I would sure do some digging around to see what could be made legal with 21st century technology before I replaced the 1960's gauge that Diamond stuck on the panel (I turn mine off for VFR so, hopefully, it has time left on it).

I saw a really nice backup system on the the Eclipse 500. It was the size of an iPhone 5, flat mounted on the panel, and provided AI, coordination, and AHRS.

[Colin]

The backup system in the DA62 is very similar to what you described, Robert.

I never thought of pulling the breaker on my standby AI during VFR. Although I was warned that the circuit breakers are not switches I would have put much travel on them even with 1,800hrs on the plane. And I bet that would have been easier on the battery, since spinning up that AI was one of the things I'd hear when I first flipped the master.

[marcuso]

Are there any new developments here? Any chance that a certified backup attitude indicator will integrate with an ADS-B out in the near future? There was reference to rule changes that would allow more leniency for certified aircraft? Is that still in the works? Are there any reasonable cost rebuild options for the existing 4300?