Paul Valovich
Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 75
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 Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:59 pm Post subject: Blue Mountain EFISBlue Mountain EFISBlue Mountain EFIS |
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As often happens during forum debates, we tend to veer from the original question and digress into personalities. FWIW, I’m now wiring the panel in my -8A, and spent more time by far on the EFIS decision than any other component over the past 3 years (hey, I may be old, but I’m awfully slow). My going in PANEL requirements were an IFR capability (please do not start a debate on whether RVs are really IFR airplanes – I have significant IFR experience and wanted my plane to have the capability if I wanted to ever exercise it). That implied an HSI and ILS capability, and the ability to tie to a GPS and SL30. Display could be a 106 or internal to the EFIS. Reliability matters. So does customer relations. Just like the basic safety rule of aviation: Listen to the experiences of others – you can’t possibly live long enough to experience them all yourself. Word of mouth reputation matters, but should be taken as a subjective assessment unless hard data is presented. Cost was a concern, but not the driver. Autopilot compatibility was also attractive.
I initially ranked BMA ahead of GRT, with Dynon third (because of lack of HIS stuff at the time). As I researched more, GRT became first choice. Then AFS came out with the 3500. After talking to them and learning more about the company and the reputation of their other products, I settled on an AFS 3500 and a TruTrak ADI Pilot. No regrets – customer service from both companies has been outstanding, and the capabilities of the 3500 satisfy all my personal requirements at reasonable cost. Even though I am over a year from first flight, I have continued to acquire additional EFIS knowledge – and haven’t found anything yet to imply I made an incorrect – or even marginal – decision.
Rightly or wrongly, in the fast-moving, public world of experimental avionics, you’re only as good as your last sortie – or customer experience. There was enough unanswered negative stuff about BMA to make me think “Why bother”, when other companies offered similar or better capabilities at comparable or affordably higher cost. As always, it gets back to personal requirements and personal hot buttons that need to be addressed in satisfying those requirements. There is no cook book. However, a “Do you guys have time to shoot the breeze about EFIS systems?” call to customer service (with your homework already done) of each company will give you some pretty good indicators.
And another FWIW – I also carefully researched engine choices, and in the end paid Bart & Sue at Aerosport over $28K for a new IO-360 – mainly because their approach to customer service resonated so well with me. Other companies would have also satisfied my requirements – perhaps even more cheaply – but Bart and Sue had an attitude and approach that worked for me.
In this business you will almost never have the 100% solution – and many times not even the 75% solution. Sometimes your ahead if you’re only 51% sure. Just like Dirty Harry sez: “Do ya’ feel lucky, punk? Well do ya?”
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