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Old September 2nd 06, 05:58 PM posted to rec.aviation.ifr
Ron Natalie
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Posts: 1,175
Default Can EFIS / EFMS lead to removing basic safety checks?

Jim Carter wrote:
This question is the result of the wrong runway issue at LEX last
weekend.



Not having flown an EFIS or EFMS myself, I'm not sure of the "into
position checklist items". For example, in a standard steam-gauge panel
one of the last things we check is to align the directional gyro with
the runway heading and compass. With an EFIS or EFMS, is there any such
last minute check, or is the heading assumed to be correct because it
was aligned by the GPS when the bird came out of the chocks?


Why would the EFIS be any different than an HSI (or as Bob already
posted the 707 RMI). It still has a heading which ought to be
verified with some real reference (Whiskey compass or runway).

Of course it's easy to get complacent. Back when I had a regular
DG that had to be set, I cross checked it against the compass/runway
on takeoff as a matter of course (since it was almost assuredly wrong).
Now that I have a slaved HSI, it's almost always right so I could see
forgetting to check it. Of course, I also have GPS plotting my position
on the Jepp airport diagram page if the field has an instrument approach
so I probably was one up on these Conair guys.