Avionics

There are three main types of avionics suites that can be installed into FSE aircraft. The FSE Client will interface with your simulator to disable each one that is not installed in the specific FSE Aircraft that you are flying. This means that if you rent a C172 without an Autopilot, the FSE Client will disable the autopilot in your simulator so that you cannot use it.

Some aircraft come from the FSE factory "fully loaded", while smaller aircraft come from the factory without any avionics at all, or with just one or two of the three components. FSE Aircraft Owners can purchase and install missing avionics components into their aircraft if they choose. Aircraft Owners can also uninstall avionics in smaller aircraft that do not require a full suite, and sell these components back to the FSE manufacturer.

From an avionics perspective, there are two categories of aircraft:

1. Aircraft that are required to have all avionics installed. These aircraft must always have and maintain a full suite of avionics.
2. Aircraft that are NOT required to have all avionics installed. These aircraft may spawn into the game with no avionics at all, or they may spawn into the game with some, or even all, avionics pre-installed "from the factory". This category of aircraft can have any available avionics package installed or uninstalled at will, and at any time, by the aircraft owner, even if those avionics came "pre installed from the factory".

Avionics Types and Functions

- IFR Package. This is considered to be a complete set of communications and navigation radios. If installed, you will be able to use your Comm radio(s) as well as your Nav and NDB radio(s). An installed IFR Package allows you to speak with ATC and other pilots, as well as navigate by VOR/ILS using your OBS instruments and your NDB radio and NDB Indicator gauge. (Note: FSE Aircraft without an IFR Package will be listed has having "VFR equipment")
- Autopilot (AP). If installed, you can use autopilot. If your FSE plane does not have an autopilot, the client will disable the autopilot inside your simulator.
- GPS. Within FSE, the GPS Avionics Package allows you to slave your GPS to your Autopilot. IF your FSE plane does not have a GPS, then the FSE client will disable your ability to slave your GPS to you Autopilot. Not having GPS within FSE does not prevent you from using your GPS gauge within the simulator as a "moving map". Only the ability to follow your GPS line with your Autopilot will be disabled. It's like bringing along your cheaper (by comparison), hand-held GPS device instead of purchasing an installed-and-integrated GPS suite.

Identify Which Avionics Are Installed

Before renting an aircraft, you might want to determine which avionics are installed (or not). If you're planning a cross country flight, or planning on procedure approaches/departures, you will probably want an IFR package to navigate by VOR or conduct ILS approaches. If that flight will be a long distance, you probably want an Autopilot suite.

You can see which packages are installed in which planes by looking under the Equipment column on the Aircraft page. As you can see in the first image, the J-3 Cub only has an Autopilot. (note: Aircraft without an IFR package are listed as "VFR"). The other three planes each have all three avionics types installed. You can also see this information on each specific aircraft's information page, as shown in the second image.

Avionics Prices

Each avionics package has an FSE Base Price. This price is important to aircraft owners for three different aspects:

Purchasing/Installing. When you purchase an avionics package, you will buy the avionics from the manufacturer at the listed base price. Additionally, you will also pay any installation fees charged by the FBO Maintenance Shop.
Removing/Selling. When you have an FBO Maintenance Shop remove your avionics, you will sell them back to the manufacturer at 20% of the base price. Additionally, you may be charged removal fees by the FBO Maintenance Shop.
Monthly Cost of Ownership. Having avionics installed in your aircraft requires an ongoing cost to maintain certification, navigation subscriptions, etc. The monthly cost for each avionics package is .6% (or .006, or six-tenths of one percent) of the avionics base price. The monthly fee for your avionics packages are rolled into the single monthly Aircraft Ownership Expenses Fee.

The base price, sell-back price, and monthly ownership fee for each avionics package is listed below:

IFR Package
- - Base Price: $13,000
  - Sell-back price: $2,600
  - Monthly fee: $78
Autopilot Package
- - Base Price: $20,000
  - Sell-back price: $4,000
  - Monthly fee: $120
GPS Package
- - Base Price: $40,000
  - Sell-back price: $8,000
  - Monthly Fee: $240

FBO Maintenance Shop Fee

In addition to the Avionics Base Prices, aircraft owners must also consider the FBO Maintenance Shop Fee where they will have their avionics work performed.

Each FBO in FSE, with an attached Maintenance Facility, will set their fee for performing avionics work. This fee is charged to the aircraft owner as a percentage of the equipment cost.

Examples:

Installation Fee for Autopilot Equipment. The cost of an AP is $20,000. If the FBO charges a 25% fee ($5,000), then the total cost to the aircraft owner for installing an AP will be $25,000.
Removal/Sell Fee for Autopilot Equipment. Since the Sell-back price is 20% of the base price ($4,000), then the removal of the same AP at the same FBO will result in a 25% FBO fee ($1,000), for a total net recuperation fee of $3,000 being paid to the aircraft owner.

The System-owned FBO (identified as "Local market") will always charge a fee of 50%. Other FSE Players operating an FBO can set their own individual rates. The Fee Percentages for every FBO can be found on the top of the Airport page, under the Avionics column, as shown in the image.

Installing Avionics Packages

In order to upgrade your aircraft with new avionics, you need to be at an airport with maintenance facilities.

Once your aircraft is located at an airport with maintenance facilities, you can begin the installation process by going to your aircraft page and selecting "Maintenance" from the Edit-dropdown. All of your avionics packages that are not yet installed will have an install button next to the listed Total Cost of Installation for each FBO Maintenance Shop located on the field.

The price listed in this column is the total price you will pay, and includes both the Base Price of the package as well as the FBO Maintenance Shop Fee.

If there are three player-owned FBOs in addition to the System FBO ("Local FBO"), then there will be four installation options for each avionics equipment. Select which FBO you would like to install which piece of equipment, and click "Install".

Note: The equipment available for installation is first grouped by the equipment type, and then by FBO, as shown in the image.

Removing/Selling Avionics Packages

If you no longer want a particular suite of avionics in your aircraft, you can have an FBO (with a maintenance shop) uninstall the equipment. In order to remove the avionics from your aircraft, you need to be at an airport with maintenance facilities.

Once your aircraft is located at an airport with avionics facilities, you can begin the removal process by going to your aircraft page and selecting "Maintenance" from the Edit-dropdown. All of your avionics packages that are installed and available to be removed will have a "Remove and Sell" button next to the listed Sell Price for each FBO Maintenance Shop located on the field.

The price listed in this column is the total price that will be paid to you, and includes both the manufacturers buy-back price as well as the FBO Maintenance Shop Fee.

If there are three player-owned FBOs in addition to the System FBO ("Local FBO"), then there will be four Remove/Sell options for each avionics equipment. Select which FBO you would like to remove which piece of equipment, and click "Remove and Sell".

The equipment available for installation is first grouped by the equipment type, and then by FBO, as shown in the image.

TIP: You will lose money if you purchase an aircraft to remove the avionics before selling it back to the system!

Some Aircraft Cannot Add or Remove/Sell Avionics

Some FSE Aircraft are required to maintain a full suite of avionics in order to maintain certification. These aircraft are spawned into the game with a compete set of all three avionics types. Owners of these aircraft cannot alter the equipment on these types of aircraft.

You can identify the Aircraft Types that fall into this category by looking on the Table View of Aircraft Models. Aircraft models with a double asterisk cannot remove and sell avionics.

Within the maintenance page for these aircraft, you will not see an option for Remove/Sell. Instead, you will simply see a box that indicates All Equipment is Installed. Pilot changes to the avionics in aircraft marked with ** are prohibited. This include adding avionics as well as removing.

Note: Some marked aircraft have been found to be lacking the full suite of avionics and require manual adjusting.

If you purchase one of these aircraft and wish to purchase and install an avionics package, please post a message in the "FSE Aircraft" forum with your request to purchase avionics. Include the aircraft registration and model in your post. The cost of your upgrade will be calculated and you will be asked to submit payment to the Bank of FSEconomy. Once payment is validated, an administrator will directly edit the system database to install your avionics as requested.

For further information, consult (this) forum posting.

Remove/Sell Limited to Aircraft Owner

The ability to remove and sell avionics is restricted to the Aircraft Owner. If you are renting or leasing a plane from another FSE Player, you must contact that Aircraft Owner to have any avionics work performed. If you leasing the aircraft, and you go to the maintenance screen, you will see the following message:

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