The AT300 is certified as both a TSO C8d Vertical Speed Indicator and as a TSO C113 Multipurpose Electronic Display. This dual certification allows the product to directly replace the elder (and butt-ugly) mechanical VSIs that are found in virtually all light aircraft.

The recently certified AT300 is reportedly the only color moving map display available in the market that can be directly installed in standard 3 inch instrument hole. This allows the AT300 to show valuable situational awareness information in the pilot's primary instrument scan, and to do so without the expense or installation complexity associated with traditional Electronic Flight Information Systems (EFIS) or Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicators (EHSI). Because installation of the AT300 requires no panel modifications or equipment relocation, the unit can be installed in virtually any aircraft regardless of the available panel space.

The AT300 moving map display shows the pilot current and next navigation leg information overlaid on a high-resolution terrain and obstacle map. Terrain and obstacle data is color-coded based upon its vertical separation from the aircraft's current altitude (similar to a TAWS display), providing the pilot an intuitive and easy to understand display to help improve their awareness of potential hazards along the current flight route. The AT300 also provides the pilot with a full time display of the aircraft's height above ground — information which has not previously been readily available in most light aircraft. The AT300 can also be configured by the pilot to display either side profile terrain or a data block showing the active waypoint identifier, desired track, groundspeed, distance to go and estimated time enroute.

Its an amazing assemblage, in a small package... for less than $4k. That's a quite deal in our book... and one reason to name it as one of the year's best products.

For additional information, visit www.aspenavionics.com.