Fixing touchscreen calibration errors on a Rockwell Collins glass cockpit requires a methodical and professional approach to ensure the system is working correctly. A calibration error can cause the touchscreen to be unresponsive or to register touches in the wrong location, making the system difficult or impossible to use. The fix often involves a software-level recalibration, a check for physical damage to the screen, and a thorough inspection of the system’s wiring.
Diagnosing a Calibration Error
A touchscreen calibration error can be caused by a variety of factors, from a simple software glitch to a physical problem with the display. The first step is to confirm that the problem is indeed a calibration error and not a more serious hardware fault.
- Inaccurate Input: The most common symptom is that the touchscreen registers a touch in a location that is slightly off from where the user is actually touching.
- Unresponsive Areas: A calibration error can sometimes create “dead zones” where the screen does not respond to touch.
- Phantom Touches: The system registers touches without any physical input, causing it to perform unwanted actions.
A technician will first attempt a simple system reboot, which can sometimes resolve a temporary software glitch. If the problem persists, a full calibration is the next step.
The Professional Repair Process
Performing a touchscreen calibration on a Rockwell Collins system should only be done by a certified avionics technician. Improper calibration can make the problem worse, and a technician is required to access the system’s maintenance pages.
- Access Calibration Mode: The technician will access the system’s maintenance pages, which contain the touchscreen calibration utility. This is a password-protected part of the system that is only accessible to authorized personnel.
- Calibration Procedure: The system will guide the technician through a series of steps to calibrate the touchscreen. This typically involves touching a series of points on the screen in a specific order. The system uses these touch points to create a map of the screen’s touch sensitivity.
- Physical Inspection: If the calibration fails, the technician will perform a physical inspection of the display. They will check the screen for any signs of physical damage, such as a crack or a scratch, that could be causing the error.
- Hardware Diagnosis: If the screen is not physically damaged and the calibration still fails, the problem may be a hardware issue, such as a faulty touchscreen controller or a communication error within the system. In these cases, a more in-depth diagnosis of the system’s hardware is required.
The Aero Center’s Expert Service
At The Aero Center, we are specialists in the maintenance and repair of twin-piston aircraft, including those equipped with Rockwell Collins glass cockpits. Our technicians are factory-trained and have the authority and expertise to handle these sensitive avionics systems. We have built a reputation for excellence in California, Arizona, and Nevada by providing consistent, quality work. We understand that a grounded aircraft is a major inconvenience, which is why we are the only 24/7 maintenance center in the region. This unique selling proposition allows us to offer unmatched service and drastically reduce aircraft downtime. Our track record of successfully resolving these complex avionics issues provides the social proof you need to trust us with your aircraft’s most critical systems.
Footnotes:
- https://www.rockwellcollins.com/
- https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/media/19_phak_ch17.pdf
- https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2012/october/1/avionics-g1000-updates
- https://www.avidyne.com/
The Aero Center is located at William J. Fox Airfield KWJF | Lancaster, CA. Contact us at 209.885.6950 for questions or appointments.