Accessories
ac·ces·sory (definition)
“a thing which can be added to something else in order to make it more useful, versatile, or attractive”.
Every time I talk about accessories, I’m reminded of the client who, after completing an avionics upgrade, called me because he had an empty 3″ hole in the panel and wanted to know what he could fill it with. I laughed! I thought it was a strange motivation for spending more money on your panel, but we discussed some of the options we will talk about today. Of course, he could simply have put a blank plate in the hole. I suspect he installed a USB charger.
Adding an accessory to your panel or to your aircraft, as the definition above suggests, can be broken down into these categories: (let’s look at each one)
• Convenience
• Safety
• Comfort
Convenience
A “convenience” accessory doesn’t make the flight safer; it makes it easier. Here are a few examples:
USB Charger
If your phone or tablet plays a role in the cockpit, depending on rechargeable batteries can be a concern. The solution is a USB Charger like the Garmin GSB-15. If you’re going to add a USB charger, I suggest installing a dual unit. The GSB-15 at $318 offers about the lowest price for a quality product. www.garmin.com/en-US/c/aviation/general
iPad Mount
The iPad has become standard equipment especially in a Light IFR panel and is still the better option in my mind than a portable GPS for VFR navigation. You want the iPad to be secure and easy to see. I consider Sporty’s iPad Pilot News as the authority on adding an iPad to your panel: ipadpilotnews.com/
Air Gizmo
The same is true if you are using portable GPS to augment navigation. You want it to be secure and easy to see. Since a portable GPS is most likely being used for VFR flying, there is frequently room in the radio stack for the Air Gizmo mount.
airgizmos.com
Vertical Card Compass
Stop chasing your “wet” compass. The Precision PAI-700 is a popular solution. The PAI700 is damped (not wet, just a little damp!) and is a lot easier to use when navigating by compass or when setting your DG/HSI. Be careful when calibrating. Over turning the adjustment screws will damage the unit and it was a common occurrence when I was selling them. aircraftspruce.com and pai700.com
Sun Shields
Visors are nice, but can be expensive and are not always in the right place. Sunguard offers a transparent polymer shield that statically attaches to your windshield or side windows. It is available in “olive green” tinted shade and absorbs approximate ly 78% of the light spectrum. I had two of these in my Cherokee Six. Just $9.95 at Aircraft Spruce. They go where visors can’t!
Safety
A “safety” accessory does just what you think; it makes the flight saferaircraftspruce.com
AOA/Angle of Attack
A critical part of most flights is the approach and landing, and GA pilots are just discovering the safety benefits of AOA or Angle of Attack instruments. If you’re not familiar with the benefits of having AOA in your panel, I have addressed it three times over the 12 years I have been writing avionics articles, most recently in the June 2025 issue.
Alpha Systems is, in my opinion, the leader in AOA systems for GA certified aircraft. They have a system for non-pressurized and pressurized aircraft and a wide variety of display options including a heads-up display (HUD). In fact, Alpha Systems has played a significant role in the development of display options for AOA. Approaches and landing with AOA is the safer way! alphasystemsaoa.com
Carbon Monoxide Detector
Carbon monoxide in the cock pit is a real issue. If you are unaware of the risk, read “CO Re visited” in the July 2023 issue. Radiant Technologies has produced an extremely affordable and reliable solution for only $79.95. The Radiant CO-Pocket is a rechargeable, pocket sized detector, that alerts (audible alarm and bright red strobe light) if the CO reaches 41 PPM. This unit shows you the CO level, temperature, and humidity on a digital display. radiantinstruments.com
An iPad or Smart Tablet with Foreflight Aviation Software
Situation awareness is basic to navigation. An iPad or smart tablet mounted securely in the cockpit gives you most of the benefits of an MFD or large format GPS at a small percentage of the cost. The iPad is the most popular option. In fact, Foreflight software is the best in my opinion, and they have chosen not to offer a version for Android devices. Foreflight is not likely to perform as well on a cheap Android tablet, and the company chooses to avoid those conversations. Again, Sporty’s iPad Pilot news is your source: ipadpilotnews.com/
Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)
If you’re doing any serious IFR or cross country flying, it is best to up grade your ELT to a 406 MHz Satellite based unit. Many pilots still have their old 121.5 ELT and are reluctant to spend the $2,500 to upgrade to a 406. A PLB is a manually activated ELT that you keep in your flight bag until you need it. They are available for under $500.
Handheld Communication Radio
A handheld works great as a backup to a panel mounted com in a VFR aircraft. In a properly equipped IFR panel with dual coms you still have the potential issue of an electrical failure, although rare. Having a backup com in your flight bag makes sense. These are available with GPS and even VOR navigation, but if you’re going to use it primarily as a backup com, keep it simple! The Sporty’s PJ2 portable com is exactly what you need!
Your headset plugs directly into the unit, and it uses “drugstore” batteries. You don’t want rechargeable in a radio that must be ready when you need it and it’s very simple to use. You want that!
uAvionix AV-20-S Solid-State Multi-Function Instrument
For me, this is the best “Safety Accessory” you can add to your panel if your budget has you dependent on a vacuum driven, mechanical AI. The AV-20-S replaces your clock and gives you a full chronometer, adding a solid-state AI as backup for a vacuum pump or mechanical failure, plus a host of other valuable functions like density altitude. At $900 plus install, it’s just what you need if flying light IFR with a vacuum system!
Comfort
A “comfort” accessory isn’t convenient, nor it does make your flight safer.
ANR Headset.
If you’re a frequent flyer and still using passive headsets, the upgrade to ANR headsets will make your flight more comfortable by reducing the high ambient noise in the cock pit and at the same time reduce fatigue associated with that noise. I prefer Lightspeed because they were the first headset manufacturer that addressed comfort. Their top of the line, Delta Zulu (at $1299), includes built-in CO detection, making it a comfort and safety accessory. They introduced audio equalization that allows you to customize the sound (through an app) to your personal situation. They also offer a more affordable option, the Sierra ANR (at $749), which could be used for your passengers. Frankly, you’ll be surprised how quiet your cockpit is with ANR’s!
Reliefband® for Motion Sickness Protection
There isn’t much worse in the “discomfort” department than motion sickness in flight. If you’re a pilot and prone to motion sickness, the Reliefband® Sport is the first ever wearable of its kind, perfect for treating motion sickness. It is a drug-free solution and available at Aircraft Spruce for $249. If comfort is the opposite of discomfort, the Reliefband may be what you need!
Conclusion
Adding any of these “accessories” to your panel can “enhance” your flying experience by making the flight more comfortable, safer or simply more convenient for you and your passengers.
