Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2012-2013 - 23

PILOT’S GUIDE

PRE-PURCHASE TRAINING
What pilots should learn about their new avionics, along with the operations they should master before VFR and then IFR flight, is pretty straightforward, said Max Trescott, the 2008 National Flight Instructor of the Year. Author of the GPS & WAAS Instrument Flying Handbook and the G1000 Glass Cockpit Handbook, he specializes in teaching pilots how to efficiently get the most out of digital avionics. According to Trescott, before flying boxes like the Garmin 430/530, VFR pilots must “absolutely know how to switch between the different pages or displays” and know – without guessing – what information each one provides. From the unit’s databases they must know how to “get airport information, download frequencies with consistent accuracy and how to input and use a flight plan – including how to make a diversion.” If pilots only know how to fly direct, they are not using their airplanes efficiently or getting full value of their avionics. When making the transition to glass, all of the above applies. Pilots should know how to properly operate the horizontal situation indicator, “how to switch to different navigation sources and understand how to manage the critical screens on the MFD.” Once pilots master operations as second nature in VFR operations, they can step up to IFR. Still, it is important for pilots to keep manuals and quick reference guides within arm’s reach of the left seat. Rather than issue all the information pilots should know with fire hose intensity on the day customers pick up their airplanes, training can start before they deliver the airplane for the installation. Rarely is buying avionics an impulse purchase. Both in person and online, shops can help customers realize their pre-purchase research is really training, especially if they get hands-on with the equipment. Aviation shows, such as EAA AirVenture and the AOPA Aviation Summit, are excellent places to comparison shop and get hands-on with tech rep tutelage. In addition, several OEMs conduct product specific seminars and presentations away from the exhibit hall. Outside the AirVenture exhibit hall, Garmin has a multi-tent campus dedicated to a full schedule of seminars and presentations in two classrooms. “We often focus on new products in our aviation seminars, because those are the products that customers are most interested in, yet least familiar and least experienced,” said Mika Cohn, communications specialist for Garmin. “But, we also pay very careful attention to the questions we receive from our customers and tailor our seminars to address those common questions.” Garmin representatives also hold seminars at dealer locations nationwide, with the schedule posted on the “seminars” tab of its aviation products website. For example, near the AirVenture 2010 classrooms, schedule boards revealed one day’s wide range of topics,

including Traffic Systems & ADS-B, WAAS Approaches & GNS530/430W, Retrofit Glass: G600/500, IFR Flying with G1000, and a handful more dedicated to various portable products. More than an audio-visual presentation, each session was a Q-and-A conversation among the Garmin rep and attendees. Video programs played between the didactic seminars. Most are available on its online learning center or as DVDs, Cohn said, and a few are on Garmin’s YouTube channel. All aviation manuals, guides and cockpit references are online under the “support” tab. And, here’s an idea for shop owners. As part of your customer service, dedicate a page to training on your shop’s website. Include links to all the available free online references, training and tutorial resources for the products you service and sell.

At EAA AirVenture, Garmin builds a multi-classroom campus for training.

TRAINING AFTER THE SALE
When closing the deal on the installation of new avionics, give customers all of the manuals, pilot guides, training materials, CDs, DVDs and PC simulators that come “in the box.” Then, urge each pilot to dive into them immediately. Distribute the training page from the shop’s website and direct them to training materials, both free and sold by the OEMs and third parties. Stress the fact that software simulating the unit’s operation on a personal computer is especially helpful in learning the desired capabilities available on each page. Recommending – or providing – a structured training course increases the chances pilots will open the manuals, because it gives them a path to follow. Most courses, whether print, computer, online or a combination of the three, teach pilots the unit’s capabilities – and how to use
Continued on following page…

- 23 -

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2012-2013