AOPA Pilot - May 2013

AOPA Pilot

The press is taking notice of the new digital fuel level senders in the new Cirrus aircraft.

In this case AOPA Pilot and Tom Horne

Here the new fuel level  senders are being discussed with the integration to the standard Cirrus Garmin Perspective Panel.

We agree that accurate fuel level makes it much easier to manage fuel and payload 

The dialogue we started a year and a half ago 

That accurate fuel level in aviation will allow for a higher level of integration, and relieve pilot workload

These innovations are reaching the light of day and in now in production

Tank level balancing and enriched warnings are now reality

Customer Responses to the Retrofit Cirrus Aircraft Kit

WHAT ARE THE CUSTOMERS  SAYING

David McGregor

Folks I just picked up the plane this evening from Advanced Aviation in Lancaster PA. Joel Glover and his team did an outstanding job installing the new CiES digital fuel sensors despite a steep learning curve on this first ever install. ... I had a chance to run the system through its paces on the short hop from KNLS to KMMU this evening.
I must say my first impression is WOW ! A huge improvement. I love having the fuel flow quantity on the MFD now, but the icing on the cake is the redundancy with the new digital fuel gauge that replaces the former analog version. Really cool looking, but more important is the functionality. I really like how you can flip between fuel quantity and the fuel burn graph, really helpful for fuel balance.
I would HIGHLY recommend this a must have upgrade to your Cirrus. Get in line now and place your orders.

Jeff Bessett

I just picked up MY aircraft, N874T SR20 - G3 Perspective with the new CiES fuel gauge STC - WOW. team at Advanced at Lancaster PA did the installation on my aircraft - and

Lancaster Avionics next door - did the avionics (Perspective) so it DOES show up on the Garmin Perspective system.

I only have 30 minutes flying with this, however, I believe this to be a game changer for anyone that has worried about the accuracy of the fuel gauges in their plane.

Tom Conroy

My partner, Gary Price and I just picked up our Cirrus from Leading Edge Aviation where they installed the new digital fuel gauges. I cannot tell you how nice it is to have a tool such as accurate fuel gauges. By using these gauges, we will be able to accurately assess whether there is a fuel leak in the system as well as accurately managing fuel supply. The gauges warn you ( by turning yellow) when there is a fuel imbalance in excess of that prescribed in the POH.

On the return trip, we wanted to see if we could land with equal fuel in each tank. About 20 minutes from our destination, we noticed a 6 to 7 gallon differential between tanks, so we switched tanks, and when we arrived at our hanger, there was less than a half

gallon differential. For some crazy reason, that made our evening...

Cirrus Retrofit Update

CIRRUS AIRCRAFT RETROFIT

Cirrus Fuel Level retrofits are now occurring throughout the world.

Wells Aircraft in Hutchinson Kansas was the latest 

Don, Scott and the rest of the team at Wells did an excellent job with the retrofit and took these pictures to show how well the system integrates to the Cirrus Aircraft 

Wells Aircraft Website


 This illustration shows the new CIES Fuel level
sensor on the Left and the replaced sensor on the Right.   Notice the increased area for fuel sealing on the new design, the smaller float and sealed Circular connector with gold plated pins.  The quality improvement is evident.

 Here is a close up of the Engine page on the MFD in the Cirrus Aircraft.  This gives you  the view of how the fuel level is depicted on the screen immediately adjacent to the Fuel Total




This illustration shows you confirmation of the fuel level remaining in the tanks as well as the fuel burned during the flight.  Given that you inputted the initial amount correctly they should match throughout the flight.



A closer view of the MFD depiction

This shows how well the new gauge integrates to the cockpit center console.  Notice that it gives you the same information as the Perspective MFD and also gives a numeric value for fuel.   If you exceed the manufacturers POH fuel imbalance the more full tank will turn yellow and flash to indicate the tank you should now select.  Simple

Another view of the Cockpit installation on the aircraft.  Notice even how well we matched the black anodizing on the instrument.   Attention to detail does not end at accurate representation of fuel level.

 Here we show the map view on the MFD with fuel level on the left side of the Perspective Screen

 A closer view of the fuel level displayed on the aircraft

CIES Has New European Installation Centre

CiES Inc is proud to have RGV Aviation 
join our list of Installation Centers.  They are excited to be able to offer their Cirrus customers the new CiES  Fuel Level retrofit for SR22T, SR22TN, SR22 & SR20 Aircraft.

This modification brings legacy Cirrus Aircraft the benefit of the new factory Gen 5 digital fuel level sensor solution.  

RGV - A Cirrus Platinum Service Center -  Based at Gloucestershire Airport (EGBJ), is a family run Aircraft and Avionics maintenance business established in 1973.  As an established EASA Part 145, FAA Repair Station with EASA Subpart G and Irish Aviation Authority Subpart G approval, they have the ability and capability to support you and your aircraft, regardless of your requirements.

CiES  - A design and manufacturing business to incorporated to redefine the measurement of fuel.   CiES patented technology for measuring fuel is intrinsically safe - Non contact,  highly accurate and has proven itself reliable under the harshest conditions.   We brought accurate fuel level to aviation 

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