Is synthetic vision all that useful, or just hype?

[edneff]

On my Garmin non touch G3X, I notice that the pitch ladder on the synthetic vision is much larger, making for more accurate pitch info than the standard PFD AI. I prefer it for that reason, among others.

[istrumit]

On my G1000 (G900), I once used to to find a runway during a pretty heavy rainstorm.

I was VFR...in that I could see the ground, and I knew I was on about a 2 mile final.

So, yeah, synth-vis held my hand until visual contact with the runway.

Not proud of it....prolly wouldn't repeat....but, it definitely helped.

[Hartstoc]

I’ve become so impressed with the ever-improving ForeFlight App that I decided NOT to upgrade from the perfectly adequate and highly functional Dynon D100/ D120 combo already installed in my 7A. Fortunately these are both mounted on the pilot side, leaving enough blank panel space to ram-mount an iPad 10.5” Pro in landscape mode on the right side, canted directly toward the pilot’s face.

The10.5 Pro has a lot more screen real estate than the 9.7 without being much larger physically but is brighter and has twice the refresh rate. It displays both SV and GPS map quite adequately side by side, but most of the time I revel in the luxury of letting the map fill the entire screen. During cross country flight, I zoom to see a 30-50NM radius, with a Scout displaying ADSB traffic very clearly.

That said, I also fly often enough with SV active to be very comfortable with using it, and could imaginenumerous scenarios in which I’d be deeply grateful to have it available.

This should take you to a couple of pics:

https://public.fotki.com/Hartstoc/foreflight/

[WingnutWick]

With how good ForeFlight's Synthetic Vision is with a Stratus I hard mounded an iPad behind my dash as my "primary" flight instrument/moving map. I have a Garmin G5 and Nav/Comm as well to accompany the setup. I absolutely love it. While I normally just have it in moving map mode, there have been a couple times...one in particular, a pitch dark night taking off out of Mammoth where you are surrounded by massive terrain and couldn't see a thing comes to mind. While I had done the climb out planning and knew where I was, it wasn't comfortable AT ALL....except for the fact that I had the synthetic vision up and the color changing of the terrain to indicate height in relation to my own altitude provided significant peace of mind.

I also think of how helpful it could be in a pinch/emergency at night or in the weather. I think it is a significant safety tool and will only continue to get better. I say, why not have it if even just for that!

[RV7A Flyer]

Originally Posted by WingnutWick

With how good ForeFlight's Synthetic Vision is with a Stratus I hard mounded an iPad behind my dash as my "primary" flight instrument/moving map. I have a Garmin G5 and Nav/Comm as well to accompany the setup. I absolutely love it. While I normally just have it in moving map mode, there have been a couple times...one in particular, a pitch dark night taking off out of Mammoth where you are surrounded by massive terrain and couldn't see a thing comes to mind. While I had done the climb out planning and knew where I was, it wasn't comfortable AT ALL....except for the fact that I had the synthetic vision up and the color changing of the terrain to indicate height in relation to my own altitude provided significant peace of mind.

You were on an IFR flight plan and clearance, right?

I worry that people will start to use SV as a substitute for staying VFR when they should, instead of filing and flying IFR. I do think SV can and will (and likely has) saved lives in an emergency, and it's way useful when visibility is kinda crappy (marginal VFR). But I'd hate to see people start using it incorrectly (much like the "pseudo-approaches" that some folks gin up using GPS to create something that looks like an ILS, but without any sort of guaranteed terrain or obstacle clearance...and then they fly them in darkness or weather anyway).

[BMC_Dave]

Originally Posted by RV7A Flyer

You were on an IFR flight plan and clearance, right?

I worry that people will start to use SV as a substitute for staying VFR when they should, instead of filing and flying IFR. I do think SV can and will (and likely has) saved lives in an emergency, and it's way useful when visibility is kinda crappy (marginal VFR). But I'd hate to see people start using it incorrectly (much like the "pseudo-approaches" that some folks gin up using GPS to create something that looks like an ILS, but without any sort of guaranteed terrain or obstacle clearance...and then they fly them in darkness or weather anyway).

Didn't know night flying required an IFR flight plan.

SV will never be a substitute for good ADM. We all know the rules and risks associated with pushing the envelope...

[moosepileit]

IFR and ATC do little for terrain threat until you are up, in radar contact and under some form of positive control- a vector, cleared via/direct, etc.

Until you are up and safe you are on your own. Fly the DP /SiID you are still on your own to make any climb gradients.

SV is a cool tool, used with a good understanding.

[RV7A Flyer]

Originally Posted by BMC_Dave

Didn't know night flying required an IFR flight plan.

SV will never be a substitute for good ADM. We all know the rules and risks associated with pushing the envelope...

It doesn't. Flight by references to instruments does. Dark, moonless nights with no lights, or over water, etc., where one "couldn't see a thing" qualify.

I believe, but haven't verified yet, that this is a quote from the FAA OGC from 1984 or so:

"actual instrument conditions may occur in the case you described a moonless night over the ocean with no discernible horizon, if use of the instruments is necessary to maintain adequate control over the aircraft."

I'm guess dark, moonless night over empty terrain might also qualify.

[BMC_Dave]

Originally Posted by RV7A Flyer

It doesn't. Flight by references to instruments does. Dark, moonless nights with no lights, or over water, etc., where one "couldn't see a thing" qualify.

I believe, but haven't verified yet, that this is a quote from the FAA OGC from 1984 or so:

"actual instrument conditions may occur in the case you described a moonless night over the ocean with no discernible horizon, if use of the instruments is necessary to maintain adequate control over the aircraft."

I'm guess dark, moonless night over empty terrain might also qualify.

Can you please point to the regulation that requires an IFR flight plan at night, even when by reference solely to instruments? This is completely new to me and something people should really be made aware of if it is true.

We should strive to provide the most accurate information we can here.

[Jesse]

Any flight with reference solely to instruments either requires a safety pilot to see and avoid or an IFR flight clearance. If you are solely referencing instruments, you are not seeing and avoiding, which is required when VFR.