Aspen PFD: How much time to learn and gain proficiency?

[AggieMike88]

Wishful dreaming....

Reviewing some of the aircraft sale websites, I've come across an aircraft on my models list that has two major things going for it.

1. The price is right for what it is, times, and avionics,
2. It already has an Aspen PFD installed.

The airframe is one that I already have about 30 hours in, so that transition wouldn't take too much time.

My question is more for transitioning to using the Aspen.

What would be a reasonable amount time to plan for being proficient with that unit? 5 hours? 10? More?

I look at it from the perspective that it is different enough not to be taken for granted. Some ground schooling and in flight training and practice would be a good idea.

Again, wishful dreaming. But applying my license to learn.

 

[Marauder]

Wishful dreaming....


Reviewing some of the aircraft sale websites, I've come across an aircraft on my models list that has two major things going for it.

1. The price is right for what it is, times, and avionics,
2. It already has an Aspen PFD installed.

The airframe is one that I already have about 30 hours in, so that transition wouldn't take too much time.

My question is more for transitioning to using the Aspen.

What would be a reasonable amount time to plan for being proficient with that unit? 5 hours? 10? More?

I look at it from the perspective that it is different enough not to be taken for granted. Some ground schooling and in flight training and practice would be a good idea.

Again, wishful dreaming. But applying my license to learn.

Not long. If it is just a PFD, if you are not already familiar with an HSI, you will find it easier than using a DG and CDI. The biggest transition for me was to start using the digital tapes for airspeed and altitude. I have both analog versions in the plane and it took a while for me to break the habit.

The navigation set up is easy. Three buttons on the bottom control what shows up on the HSI (middle button) and what shows up on the RMI needles for a second and third Nav source. You can just use the HSI by itself, but if you want to cross check you can have the other sources plugged in.

You will gain additional information. Your TAS will be calculated, ground speed presented, the winds aloft and OAT will be shown on the display. The Nav source will also have a box on the display showing your next waypoint, time and distance to it.

VSI is on the right side of the HSI and is shown both digitally and with an analog strip. The HSI also has a moving map underneath it. If you look closely at the picture, you can see KEVY lightly on the lower right side of the HSI. This is an airport that I just passed. The HSI can be displayed against a standard DG style compass rose or an arc (airplane at the bottom of the screen).

The AI portion uses a chevron as opposed to a little airplane (or whatever others use). It looks the same as a standard AI but with the tapes on the sides. You can also set altitude alerts for both altitude to reach and mins.

Screen shot:

 

[MAKG1]

Let's put it this way.

My club does an Aspen/430/coupled autopilot checkout with an hour of ground instruction and an hour in the air. If it's only the Aspen, it will be a lot less than that. The hardest stuff is its interactions with GPS and older autopilots. Not that bad, really.

The biggest problem is that the PFD is an eye magnet, as it's rather small and dense with information.

 

[zaitcev]

I have about 50 hours on Aspen and perhaps same on older Dynon 180, and I don't think either of them draws attention too much. However, with the dual Aspen I never was able to be 100% confident in my ability to make it show what I want on the map display. Sometimes I get a stuck airport diagram until I'm done with tower and Departure says "continue on course".

One thing I noticed about Aspen is that it gets hot enough to cook eggs. I'm surprised it continues to work even so.

 

[Clark1961]

Since you're VFR only the Aspen will only take a few minutes to figure out for "eyes out of the cockpit" flying. If coupled to a gps & autopilot then it will take an hour or two. Read the pilots manual, grab a safety pilot then go fly for an hour. Everything will be all better.

 

[Ted]

I found the digital presentation did take a little extra time for me to get used to in IMC. Only a few hours, though, no big deal. To master it I just played around with it while flying. It's really no big deal. For the basics, an hour or so is plenty.

It does get hot. The newest firmware addresses that some, mostly with a slightly lower brightness on the display. I manually turn it down further, and we also added a fan port pointed at the back and I added vent holes above it and above the GPS following my Aspen smoke issue. Those changes have reduced the temp of the components substantially.

 

[C182P]

It does get hot. The newest firmware addresses that some, mostly with a slightly lower brightness on the display. I manually turn it down further, and we also added a fan port pointed at the back and I added vent holes above it and above the GPS following my Aspen smoke issue. Those changes have reduced the temp of the components substantially.

I just got my aircraft back after a PFD 1000 Pro installation, and I've noticed the bezel gets very hot. I suppose I'll need to check the firmware version to make sure I'm on the latest, but since my installer just ordered the unit in early July, I would expect it's already there -- so I wonder how hot it _used_ to get!

As to the question "how long does it take...", I can't answer yet but I'm excited to discover the answer myself.

 

[Marauder]

Just a comment on the heat. I have an Aspen 2000 system (dual PFD/MFD) combination. I noticed the heat as well. On a technical support call to Aspen about some future products and how it would interact with some existing hardware, I asked about the heat. The answer I got was that this was by design. Rather than trying to dissipate the heat to the back of the unit where it is a confined area, they direct the heat through the front bezel and use it as a heat sink.

They did do some firmware updates as Ted pointed to keep the overall heat signature down. One of these days I will put my IR meter on it and see what it runs at. Eggs are a possibility, but don't think it can do a steak.

 

[Clark1961]

One of these days I will put my IR meter on it and see what it runs at. Eggs are a possibility, but don't think it can do a steak.

It might be just hot enough to do a good brisket - 275 for 10 hours or so...

 

[AggieMike88]

While I remember Ted's story of losing his PFD during one of his iron butt rescue flights, I'm surprised getting *that* hot is common across the design.

 

[Shawn]

Perfect timing in this post. I just landed from my shakedown flight with my new to me 182P with Aspen Pro 1000 and was concerned how hot it was...good to know it is not my panel melting!

 

[frfly172]

Have a 430,530 and aspen can't believe how hot they get but have never had an issue.learning the aspen was not an issue,great piece of avionics.

 

[us AAirways]

I haven't used the Aspen yet, but I got used to the Dynon in the Remos I flew almost right away.

 

[KSMooniac]

I've got a little bit over 1 hour in an unfamiliar plane to me with an Aspen, and was getting pretty comfy by the end of the flight without an instructor or trainer. I scanned through the guide ahead of time to get a head start on the "buttonology" and found it pretty easy to use. The middle part of the display is indeed dense with info, and I'm sure in time one would naturally look only where needed to get whatever might be important at that point in time.

I want one, or two.

 

[Ted]

I just got my aircraft back after a PFD 1000 Pro installation, and I've noticed the bezel gets very hot. I suppose I'll need to check the firmware version to make sure I'm on the latest, but since my installer just ordered the unit in early July, I would expect it's already there -- so I wonder how hot it _used_ to get!

As to the question "how long does it take...", I can't answer yet but I'm excited to discover the answer myself.

I would highly suggest that you consider some of the actions I've taken to help longevity.

Just a comment on the heat. I have an Aspen 2000 system (dual PFD/MFD) combination. I noticed the heat as well. On a technical support call to Aspen about some future products and how it would interact with some existing hardware, I asked about the heat. The answer I got was that this was by design. Rather than trying to dissipate the heat to the back of the unit where it is a confined area, they direct the heat through the front bezel and use it as a heat sink.

They did do some firmware updates as Ted pointed to keep the overall heat signature down. One of these days I will put my IR meter on it and see what it runs at. Eggs are a possibility, but don't think it can do a steak.

I've heard the same story from Aspen and my avionics guy. While I do agree it's possible to design it that way effectively, there is still a great deal of heat on the unit and also on the 3" round part that sticks back. While they may have designed it to handle the heat, I would still point out that heat is bad for longevity of items. If you can minimize heat, it will last longer.

While I remember Ted's story of losing his PFD during one of his iron butt rescue flights, I'm surprised getting *that* hot is common across the design.

I was pretty surprised at the heat as well. Keep in mind this was on a trip over the Gulf of Mexico to Belize wwith all my avionics running and a relatively low altitude for engine break-in (ie hot), but it still was very surprising to me what happened. My 530W didn't die, nor did my KWX56.

I have had more enjoyable moments in my flying career than that "poof" of smoke and a black screen.

 

[Ted]

I'd also point out that Aspen's customer service was excellent when my failed. I also don't want to need to use it again.