The Avidyne FlightMax series of primary flight displays and multi-function displays are an all-digital replacement for conventional flight instruments. Marketed at and included in primarily light general aviation aircraft, Avidyne is making inroads into the corporate market.
The primary competitor for the FlightMax Entegra model of integrated cockpit displays is the Garmin G1000. Unlike the Garmin product, the FlightMax units require external avionics to feed the communication and navigational instruments. This is both a benefit and a disadvantage, as a midair failure of the FlightMax is not complete, allowing communication and basic navigation. The downside of this is that the system is inherently less streamlined, making it slightly more difficult to use and potentially more dangerous.
A safety concern for customers and some fixed base operators has been the FlightMax's inability to restart itself midair - if the system fails, the aircraft must land to reorient itself and reset the displays.
Last updated: 05-28-2005 02:30:56