Warning: DME vs Garmin GPS units on a Piper Archer install

I spent last month swapping out a broken DME head on a 1978 Piper Archer against putting in a Garmin GPS 175. The DME cost me about $400 on eBay and took half a day to wire up and test. The Garmin was $3000 and took 3 days including the antenna mount and software config. But here's the thing - the DME still gives us distance to a VOR which is fine for IFR but it's old tech. The GPS gives me 50 times more functionality like direct to waypoints and glideslope info. My customer went with the DME because of budget but I swear the GPS is so much better for situational awareness. Has anyone else dealt with this trade-off on older airframes where the pilot just wants to save a buck?

2 comments

2 Comments

wendyc531d ago

The DME is a perfectly legal way to fly IFR, but you're really just maintaining status quo with 1970s technology. That Garmin 175 opens up whole new ways to fly - direct routing, non-precision approaches with vertical guidance, and a moving map that shows you where you are in relation to obstacles and airspace. I've seen too many pilots get themselves into trouble because they're heads-down trying to figure out a VOR radial while their situational awareness goes out the window. The money saved on the DME might end up costing them later in a missed approach or a close call. It's kind of like whether to fix the old tube radio in a classic car or put in a modern stereo with Bluetooth - you can still drive it, but you're missing out on a lot.

harper_smith1d ago

Is anyone else thinking about how the DME might actually be a better choice if you're renting out your plane or plan to sell it soon? Here's the deal, not every pilot who will fly your airplane wants to mess with a brand new Garmin. I know a guy who spent five grand on a fancy GPS and now he has to spend an hour teaching every renter how to use it. With a DME, anyone who got their ticket before 2015 can hop in and fly IFR without a second thought. It's kind of like buying a stick shift car vs an automatic - sure the auto is nicer, but you just cut your buyer pool in half. Maybe the real question is what makes the airplane more useful to the people who will actually fly it, not just what has the coolest features.