Cockpit Accessories

The Avidyne/Ryan merger has dropped the price of active traffic systems to $10,000. Flexible display options sweeten the deal.

And so is the Pocket CO from TTI. SafeTest 90 portable is the best of the best, if budget is no factor. We like the panel-mount Guardians but they lack low-level sensing.

Nonins FlightStat is easier to use and read, but it costs $100 more and we were put off by the companys high repair costs.

Versa-True has more positioning flexibility but RAMs gadget cradle is superior and it costs half as much. Best value is the RAM suction mount.

Versa-True has more positioning flexibility but RAMs gadget cradle is superior and it costs half as much. Best value is the RAM suction mount.

Even in northern climes, you need something to keep UV out of the cockpit. Cunningham and Sun-Foil are our favorites.

MountainScope, Control Visions Anywhere Map and NavAir are the top performers and new bluetooth technology holds the wiring hassle at bay.

After teething pains with the first try, Jepps USB-based datawriter makes GPS revisions easy but hardly cheap.

Supplemental pads from Moller and Oregon Aero ease the pain of stock aircraft seats.

If you use GPS and portable radios constantly, Rayovacs rechargeable IC3s are the best value. In throwaway cells, Duracell is tops.

It seems like a clever idea but its limitations will be a dealbreaker for many. To get the most out of cellular weather, you’ll need a high-end phone.

Sportys DVD-based Chart Viewer and Pocket Plates are practical, good-value alternatives to reams of paper.