For the complete report: AIN_2011_ProductSupport_Avionics.pdf

AIN’s readers who responded to the annual Product Support Survey once again chose Garmin as their favorite for the top provider of cockpit avionics customer service. Garmin’s rating jumped this year to 8.35, up from last year’s 8.07, making it again the sole cockpit avionics manufacturer with a rating above the 8.0 level. In second place again this year was Universal Avionics, with 7.85, down slightly from last year’s 7.92. After Garmin, the top contenders are all within a fairly narrow range, with third place going to L-3 Avionics Systems at 7.76, up from last year’s 7.58 and vaulting L-3 ahead of fourth-place finisher Rockwell Collins (7.69, down from last year’s third-place 7.78). Avidyne’s score of 7.50 put it in fifth place, ahead of Honeywell (7.36) and Honeywell’s Bendix/King division (7.11). Rounding out the cockpit avionics manufacturers were Sandel at 6.69 and Thales at 6.03.

On the cabin electronics side, which includes telecommunications and entertainment equipment, Aircell leads the pack with a jump to an overall average of 7.90, up from 7.54 last year, besting Heads-Up Technologies, which took second place with 7.81. Rosen Aviation moves to third place with 7.74, up from last year’s at 7.17. In fourth place is Flight Display Systems at 7.60, down from last year’s 7.95. Rockwell Collins took fifth place at 7.39, pushing Honeywell down to sixth at 7.35. Thrane & Thrane scored 7.09, followed by MagnaStar at 6.31, down from 6.84 last year.