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Glass Panel Reliability Survey

This survey seeks your opinions and experience on long-term use of the popular EFIS systems installed in late model certified aircraft. For this survey we are looking for feedback on units which have been in the field for at least four years. No newer models, please. We're interested in experience from private owners, flightschools and fleet operators.

Not that for this inquiry, we are primarily interested in singe-engine piston aircraft and certified OEM only. We'll look at the aftermarket systems such as Aspen and Chelton in another survey.
 
 
What year airplane is your system installed in? (Please use a four-digit number such as 2005.)
 
 
 
What type of aircraft is your system installed in?
Beechcraft G36
Cessna 172
Cessna 182
Cessna 206
Cirrus SR20
Cirrus SR22
Columbia 300/350
Columbia 400
Diamond DA40
Piper Archer
Piper Arrow
Piper Saratoga
Piper Mirage
Mooney M20
Other
 
 
About how many hours are on the airplane/EFIS
 
 
 
About how many hours a year do you fly the airplane?
Less than 25
25 to 50
50 to 100
100 to 150
More than 150
 
 
Which EFIS system is installed in your airplane?
Avidyne Entegra
Garmin G1000
Other
 
 
How would you describe the overall reliability of the system you use?
Extremely reliable
Reliable enough; what I expected
Moderately reliable
Somewhat unreliable
Unreliable; disappointing
NA or doesn't apply
 
 
What has been the frequency of required repairs? By repairs, we mean that you had to take it to the shop for an issue that required a repair you had to pay for.
None
One or two at the most
Two to five
More than five
NA or doesn't apply
Other
 
 
If you had repairs, how long was the aircraft down?
No operational impact
Two to three days
A week
More than a week
Several weeks
N/A or doesn't apply.
 
 
Were the repairs covered under warranty?
Yes
No
N/A or doesn't apply.
 
 
If offered, did you buy an extended warranty?
Yes
No
N/A or doesn't apply.
 
 
If you bought the extended warranty, was the expenditure worth it?
 
 
 
For repairs not covered under warranty, about how much have you spent on repairs and maintenance, not counting database purchases?
Zero
Under $1000
$1000 to $2000
$2000 to $5000
More than $5000
N/A or doesn't apply
 
 
Considering reliability and frequency of repair, feel free to comment on the details:
 
 
 
What was the nature of required repairs?
Display failure
Processor/electronic failure
Navigation failure
Comm or Nav radio failure
ADAHRS or related failure
Mechanical knob/control failure
Wiring/install issue
NA or doesn't apply
Other
 
 
If you have any detailed comments on the nature of the failure or required repairs, feel free to add them here.
 
 
 
As far as the overall responsive of the company in delivering support and repairs, how would you describe your experience?
The company was very responsive. I was pleased.
The response was adequate, but not exceptional.
Response was so-so. They could have done better.
I was dissatisfied with the response.
NA or doesn't apply.
 
 
As far as the timeliness of the repair or support, which describes your experience?
It was done on time.
It took longer than I thought, but was acceptable.
It took too long.
It was totally unacceptable.
NA or doesn't apply
 
 
How difficult was it to find training to learn the system?
Not difficult at all.
Somewhat difficult, but I got the training.
Difficult
Just about impossible
N/A or doesn't appply
 
 
How satisfied are you with the following:
Very UnsatisfiedUnsatisfiedNeutralSatisfiedVery Satisfied
Overall performance of the system
Overall reliability of the system
Cost/value (Do you get your money's worth?)
Logic and operability of the system
WAAS upgrade, if you bought it
Cost/value of the WAAS upgrade
 
 
With regard to the cost of ownership of an EFIS system, which describes your view?
Cost of ownership isn't an issue; this technology is worth it.
The cost of ownership has been surprising, but still acceptable.
Knowing what I know now and considering the cost, I'm not sure it's worth it.
N/A or doesn't apply.
Other
 
 
Which best describes your overall attitude in owning and/or flying an EFIS system?
I'm absolutely thrilled with it.
I'd call myself satisfied, if not thrilled.
I'm on the fence. I could go back to steam gauges.
I'm not really satisfied at all.
I hate it.
NA or doesn't apply.
Other
 
 
Knowing what you know now, how likely...
Absolute certaintyVery likelySomewhat likelyUnlikely
would you be to buy this system again?
to recommend this system to another pilot?
to want to own some other system?
 
 
Whether you buy regular updates or not and not counting required repairs, what do you estimate the annual ownership costs are for your EFIS. This includes databases and subscriptions for weather, but not repairs.
Under $500
$500 to $1000
$1000 to $2000
More than $2000
N/A or doesn't apply
 
 
Do you buy regular database updates?
Yes, I buy them all: Nav, terrain, procedures.
Yes, but not all of them.
I buy them periodically, but not regularly.
No, I don't really update the EFIS databases
 
 
With regard to the cost/value of database updates, which describes your opinion?
Yes, they're expensive, but worth it to me.
Expensive and legally required so I bite the bullet and buy them.
Expensive and not really worth it. I buy them only as necessary.
NA or doesn't apply.
Other
 
 
Finally, if you were sitting across the table from the CEO of the company that made your EFIS, what suggestions would you make?
 
 
 
(This is completely optional!) As part of our research, we may want follow up on some of your comments. If you're amenable, please share your name and contact information. We'll put the info through the digital shredder when we're done with this survey:
Name:
 
E-Mail Adress:
 
Daytime Telephone #:
 
 
Please contact customer_service@belvoir.com if you have any questions regarding this survey.