When can I eliminate the mechanical Airspeed and Altimeter

[Oscar Avalle]

I am in the process of upgrading my panel and I will have an Aspen and two G5s installed. Can I get away with the mechanical airspeed indicator and altimeter, or do I have to keep them?

Any suggestions more than welcomed..

Oscar

[rbridges]

@gsxrpilot told me on a few occasions, but I think you can get rid of the ASI and Altimeter with the first Aspen unit (assuming it's the PFD).  

[Steve W]

One thing that strikes me is that even the G1000 equipped planes still have mechanical Airspeed and Altimeter(and attitude indicator).

[Schinderhannes]

A single Aspen install requires Standby Airspeed, Altimeter, and Attitude Indicator. Accordingly to the G5 STC it qualifies as standalone primary source for aircraft attitude or turn coordination information while also displaying secondary information such as airspeed, altitude.  

My interpretation would be that you still need your ASI & AL. 

[KLRDMD]

Aspen 2000MAX with the backup external battery lets you eliminate all backup instruments (and potentially your entire vacuum system).

[gsxrpilot]

36 minutes ago, rbridges said:

@gsxrpilot told me on a few occasions, but I think you can get rid of the ASI and Altimeter with the first Aspen unit (assuming it's the PFD).  

Actually the first Aspen will allow you to remove the turn coordinator, VSI, and DG. A second Aspen (MFD) allows you to remove the remainder including the ASI, AI, and Altimeter. 

[rbridges]

30 minutes ago, gsxrpilot said:

Actually the first Aspen will allow you to remove the turn coordinator, VSI, and DG. A second Aspen (MFD) allows you to remove the remainder including the ASI, AI, and Altimeter. 

Thanks for the correction.  It seems like I would remember, but you know how it is.  

[Oscar Avalle]

Thank you! Do you have the installation manual?

[MIm20c]

2 hours ago, gsxrpilot said:

Actually the first Aspen will allow you to remove the turn coordinator, VSI, and DG. A second Aspen (MFD) allows you to remove the remainder including the ASI, AI, and Altimeter. 

The mfd requires the external backup battery to remove the ASI and altimeter. The Max pfd/mfd with battery backup is required to remove the AI. 
 

Another option is an esi500 which will work with a pfd or pfd Max to be able to remove the backup instruments. Until a month ago the Sandia 340 could also be field approved to replace the backup instruments...now it has demoted to paperweight status.  

[Paul_Havelka]

Another option if you are a Big G fan is to do 2 GI275 and you can eliminate your entire 6 pack setup

[McMooney]

Unless I'm getting a new big screen panel, can't see why i'd ever get rid of the asi, vsi and altimeter.  Those are like the most reliable instruments in the panel.

[philiplane]

The ASI, VSI, and altimeter are the lightest and most reliable instruments, removing them would be the very last thing to pursue.

[Skates97]

It's interesting, I think I have about 15 hours now with the dual G5's. I find that for altitude and vertical speed I look at the G5. For airspeed I still tend to look at the ASI, I think it is a combination of habit and also it is easy after all my time in the plane to know at a glance what my speed is by where the needle is positioned. I imagine over time I will probably transition more to the G5's for all of that information. 

[oldguyscanfly]

2 hours ago, Skates97 said:

It's interesting, I think I have about 15 hours now with the dual G5's. I find that for altitude and vertical speed I look at the G5. For airspeed I still tend to look at the ASI, I think it is a combination of habit and also it is easy after all my time in the plane to know at a glance what my speed is by where the needle is positioned. I imagine over time I will probably transition more to the G5's for all of that information. 

I've got about 40 hrs on my dual G5's, and I'm still looking at my ASI and ATL, but now more of part of a scan I guess. Takes awhile to get used to I guess. Still like them.

[drapo]

@Oscar Avalle Here is the link to the E5 installation manual:

https://aspenavionics.com/images/resources/900-00041-001_E_EFD1000_E5_Dual_EFI_Installation_Manual.pdf

 

I'm also looking at adding an Aspen E5 and getting rid of the vacuum instruments. My reading of the installation manual is that it is allowed under certain conditions. Here is a drawing from the installation manual to explain it, as I read it, if your installation is done according to certain guidelines, you can delete both the AI and the DG and replace them with the E5. The condition is to keep the Airspeed, Turn coordinator, Altimeter and the whiskey compass.

Am I reading this wrong?

 

E5.Req.Inst.pdf

[Oscar Avalle]

You can get rid of the Vacuum pump.

[OR75]

Apart from saving 2 lbs  and making the panel look more sexy, I see no benefit in removing the Alt and VSI 

[gsxrpilot]

16 hours ago, OR75 said:

saving 2 lbs  and making the panel look more sexy

That's more than enough reason 

[gsxrpilot]

On 10/12/2020 at 9:21 PM, Skates97 said:

It's interesting, I think I have about 15 hours now with the dual G5's. I find that for altitude and vertical speed I look at the G5. For airspeed I still tend to look at the ASI, I think it is a combination of habit and also it is easy after all my time in the plane to know at a glance what my speed is by where the needle is positioned. I imagine over time I will probably transition more to the G5's for all of that information. 

During my Commercial training I found it was too distracting to have two round dials and two tape displays. So I put some round dial covers over the ASI and Altimeter and told the DPE that the G5 would be the source of truth for all the maneuvers. It's the instrument closest to the right seat anyway.