EFIS is an acronym for "Electronic Flight Information System". The EFIS provides primary flight data (attitude, altitude, airspeed, vertical speed, steering), graphical engine data, and a moving map. It is designed as a cost-effective replacement of traditional vacuum-powered mechanical gyros. Unlike mechanical gyros, no maintenance is required, and installation is much quicker, easier, and lighter. Aerobatics, vibration, and temperature do not affect the life of the EFIS, as it is completely electronic.
In addition to these benefits, the EFIS provides data not available with mechanical gyros, such a navigation steering data integrated with the attitude display, an artificial view of the world showing airports and obstacles just the way they appear out the window, continuously computed winds, and much, much more. It's easy to get excited about the functionality of EFIS, but it’s more than just features.
The GRT EFIS is engineered from the ground up without compromises. Small details, like a sunlight readable display, wide –15 to +160 deg F operating temperature range, and an attitude/heading reference system (AHRS) that is built to aerospace standards could easily go unnoticed…and that is exactly the idea.
Instead, what you notice is how naturally all flight information is communicated…how seamlessly navigation and attitude are combined with a highway in the sky or ILS needles presentation , and the flexibility of the user-configurable features.
Even more important are the details that go unnoticed, such as the continuous built-in test functions, the consideration for failure modes and effects, the validation and cross-check of flight critical data...in short the details you would expect in avionic equipment that gives it the integrity making it suitable for flight...details some other manufacturers are unaware of...details that come from our extensive aviation/aerospace experience.
The GRT EFIS goes far beyond the functions of conventional instruments. The elimination of mechanical instrumentation provides advantages not only in the reliability and freedom from maintenance, but also the ability to provide data not previously available, and in a format that more naturally communicates the state of the aircraft to the pilot.
