By Thomas P. Turner

There’s no going back—we are in an era of high-tech avionics and cockpit automation. Even some LSAs are sporting "glass" cockpits and simple autopilots; cross-country airplanes sport panels and equipment unheard of even in high-end turbines scant years ago, and the turbines themselves are becoming more accessible to owner-pilots. Even the most capable of these airplanes, however, has

Cirrus’ new Perspective avionics suite—an upgrade to Garmin’s 1000—includes a go-around button on the throttle, a “level” button on the center console and a “highway in the sky” presentation for the primary flight display.

its automation limitations. Proper operation and constant monitoring of automated systems remains the responsibility of well-trained and emergency-current pilots.

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