The Cirrus SR22, with its groundbreaking all-glass cockpits, revolutionized general aviation. Early models featured the Avidyne Entegra system, later giving way to the now ubiquitous Garmin Perspective (based on the G1000). For owners in California, Arizona, and Nevada, upgrading or repairing these sophisticated systems is a significant consideration. Understanding the available upgrade paths and common repair scenarios is crucial for budgeting and planning.
At The Aero Center, we have extensive experience with both Avidyne and Garmin systems in Cirrus aircraft. Our 24/7 maintenance center offers expert diagnostics and repairs, minimizing the downtime for your technologically advanced aircraft. Our adherence to the principle of Social Proof means that countless Cirrus owners trust us with their complex avionics needs, a testament to our specialized expertise.
GLASS COCKPIT UPDATE PATHS FOR THE CIRRUS SR22
The upgrade path for your SR22 largely depends on its original avionics suite:
1. Avidyne Entegra-Equipped SR22s (Earlier Models):
- Avidyne Vantage Upgrade: This is Avidyne’s direct retrofit solution for legacy Entegra-equipped Cirrus aircraft.
- Features: Vantage offers larger, brighter 12-inch touchscreen displays, 3D Synthetic Vision, dual AHRS with MFD reversion (meaning the MFD can display primary flight information if the PFD fails), and seamless integration with Avidyne’s IFD-series navigators and DFC90 autopilot. It reuses existing aircraft wiring, simplifying installation.
- Benefits: Keeps the avionics suite all Avidyne, which can be appealing to pilots comfortable with Avidyne’s interface. Offers modern glass cockpit features with a potentially less disruptive installation compared to a full Garmin swap.
- Cost: Dual Vantage displays (PFD and MFD) can range from $25,000 to $33,000 MSRP, with additional costs for a second Air Data Computer (ADC) and magnetometer if desired. Installation costs would be additional, but generally less due to reusing existing wiring.
- Garmin GTN Series Navigators (IFR Navigator Upgrade): While not a full glass cockpit replacement, many Avidyne Entegra owners choose to upgrade their primary GPS navigators to Garmin GTN 650Xi or 750Xi units.
- Features: These touchscreen navigators offer advanced navigation, WAAS LPV approaches, and can often interface with the existing Avidyne displays for flight plan display.
- Benefits: Significant improvement in navigation capabilities and user interface, often integrated with a DFC90 autopilot.
- Cost: A single GTN unit can range from $12,000 to $20,000 for the unit itself, plus several thousand for installation.
- Garmin G1000 NXi/Perspective Conversion (Major Overhaul): This is the most extensive and expensive upgrade path for an Avidyne-equipped Cirrus.
- Features: Replaces the entire Avidyne suite with the integrated Garmin G1000 NXi or a Cirrus Perspective equivalent. This involves new displays (PFD, MFD), new AHRS, ADCs, engine indication systems, and often a new Garmin autopilot.
- Benefits: Provides the latest Garmin technology, commonality with newer Cirrus models, and generally considered a higher resale value.
- Cost: This is essentially like installing a new glass cockpit. Costs can be $80,000 to well over $100,000, including parts and significant labor for removing the old system and installing the new one. This is typically only considered if there are major, irreparable failures of the Avidyne system or if the owner desires the absolute latest Garmin integration.
2. Garmin Perspective/G1000-Equipped SR22s (Newer Models):
- Perspective+ Upgrade: Garmin’s primary upgrade path for existing Perspective (G1000-based) equipped SR22s.
- Features: Brighter, faster high-resolution displays (often 10 or 12-inch depending on configuration) with multicore processors for smoother panning and faster map rendering. Adds features like visual approach capability, Flight Profile View (VNAV), and optional GDL 60 Datalink for Database Concierge (automatic database updates via Wi-Fi/4G LTE) and flight log uploads.
- Benefits: Enhances the existing Garmin suite with modern processing power and advanced features, leveraging the existing hardware footprint for minimal downtime and installation costs.
- Cost: The Perspective+ upgrade is designed to be affordable, but specific pricing varies. Garmin states displays preserve the same footprint and harness connections, reducing labor.
- G1000 NXi Upgrade (for early G1000 models): Similar to Perspective+, this upgrade brings the capabilities of the NXi system to original G1000 installations.
- Features: Faster processors, brighter displays, HSI mapping, SurfaceWatch™ runway monitoring, and Connext® wireless connectivity.
- Benefits: Significantly enhances the performance and feature set of the original G1000, bringing it up to modern standards.
- Cost: Varies depending on the specific aircraft and features enabled. It typically includes new displays, a Flight Stream 510, SurfaceWatch enablement, and updated pilot’s guide.
TYPICAL GLASS COCKPIT REPAIR STORIES
Despite their sophistication, glass cockpits are electronic devices and can experience failures. Common repair stories often revolve around display units (PFD/MFD) and associated components.
- Display Failures (PFD/MFD):
- Symptoms: Blank screens, flickering displays, horizontal/vertical lines, pixelation, or frozen images. Sometimes the backlight fails, leaving the screen dark but the bezel buttons still lit.
- Cause: Internal component failure, aging backlight (CCFL backlights in older units eventually dim or fail; newer LED backlights are more robust but can still fail), power supply issues, or heat-related stress.
- Repair: Often involves sending the unit to an authorized repair facility (Garmin or Avidyne) for troubleshooting and repair. This can mean replacing internal circuit boards, backlights, or even the entire display assembly. For older units, the cost of repair might approach the cost of a new or upgraded display, pushing owners towards an upgrade path.
- Story: “My Avidyne PFD just went black mid-flight! Luckily, I had the MFD and standby instruments. It was a stressful flight home. Turns out the backlight inverter died. Repair cost was about $X, but it made me seriously consider the Vantage upgrade for redundancy and newer tech.”
- AHRS/ADC Failures:
- Symptoms: Erratic or frozen attitude, heading, or air data indications (airspeed, altitude, vertical speed). “ATTITUDE FAIL” or “AIR DATA FAIL” messages.
- Cause: Internal sensor failure, component degradation, or connection issues.
- Repair: Typically requires replacement of the Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) unit or Air Data Computer (ADC) unit. These are often integrated into the PFD or separate remote boxes.
- Story: “My SR22 started showing wildly inaccurate attitude. The autopilot kept trying to correct. Turned out the AHRS unit was failing. It was a quick swap, but the unit itself was a five-figure part. Made me appreciate having dual AHRS in the newer systems.”
- Keypad/Controller Issues:
- Symptoms: Buttons sticking, unresponsive buttons, or flickering backlights on the dedicated control keypads (GFC 700 autopilot controller, GCU 478 keyboard).
- Cause: Wear and tear from use, liquid spills, or internal electrical faults.
- Repair: Often involves cleaning, component replacement, or complete unit replacement.
- Story: “My autopilot control panel started having sticky buttons. It was minor at first, but then some buttons just stopped responding. My mechanic sent it in for repair, and it came back working like new, but it took a few weeks.”
- Intermittent Connectivity/Communication Errors:
- Symptoms: “NO GPS,” “COM FAIL,” “MFD NO DATA,” or other intermittent loss of communication between avionics components.
- Cause: Loose connections, chafed wiring, corroded pins, or internal software glitches. Can also be due to external factors like antenna issues.
- Repair: Troubleshooting involves checking wiring harnesses, connectors, software updates, and isolating the specific component causing the communication breakdown. This can be challenging and time-consuming.
- Story: “My MFD kept showing ‘NO GPS’ intermittently. My mechanic spent hours tracing wires, re-seating connectors, and updating software. It was a frustrating and expensive troubleshooting process, but eventually, we found a corroded pin in a connector behind the panel.”
- Database Corruption/Update Issues:
- Symptoms: Navigation databases failing to load, errors during database updates, or outdated mapping.
- Cause: Corrupt database files, issues with SD cards, or problems with the database loading mechanism.
- Repair: Usually involves reformatting SD cards, redownloading databases, or, in more severe cases, sending the display unit in for service if the internal card reader or software is at fault. Newer systems with Database Concierge reduce this risk.
- Story: “I couldn’t get my navigation databases to update. It kept failing halfway through. Turns out the SD card was corrupted. A new high-speed card fixed it, but it taught me to always have a backup database option.”
Glass cockpit updates and repairs for the Cirrus SR22 are specialized tasks requiring significant expertise. For Cirrus owners in California, Arizona, and Nevada, choosing a maintenance provider with deep experience in these systems is paramount to ensuring safety, reliability, and maximizing your aircraft’s value.
The Aero Center is your premier choice for Cirrus SR22 glass cockpit service. With our 24/7 availability and highly trained technicians, we ensure your advanced avionics are meticulously maintained and updated, getting you back in the air with minimal delay.
The Aero Center is located at William J. Fox Airfield KWJF | Lancaster, CA. Contact us at 209.885.6950 for questions or appointments.
Footnotes:
- Garmin. Cirrus Perspective+ Flight Deck Upgrade for SR Series G3 and G5 Aircraft. https://www.garmin.com/en-PH/aviation/perspective-plus-flight-deck-upgrade-for-cirrus-sr-series/
- Avidyne. Vantage Flight Display Systems. https://www.avidyne.com/shop/vantage/vantage-flight-display-systems-solutions/
- High Performance Aviation, LLC. “Garmin G1000 vs. Avidyne Entegra Avionics.” https://www.flyhpa.com/2020/02/garmin-g1000-vs-avidyne-entegra-avionics/
- Garmin. G1000® to G1000 NXi Upgrade. https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/662319/