Originally Posted by Solid Rust Twotter
Can't see that G1000 panel lasting long in the tougher areas of operation.
On the contrary, as far back as the early 1990s, bush operators such as Merpati in Indonesia (a VFR only operation) were retrofitting first generation glass cockpits (Collins displays) precisely because these displays had far lower MTBF (mean time between failures) and far lower costs of ownership than conventional electro-mechanical instruments. In the late 90s, I worked for an operator that retrofitted 12 Twin Otters with dual Garmin 430 stacks to replace the original com/nav units. They bought 3 additional 430s to keep as line spares, and to the best of my knowledge, these three are still in the store in the original shrink-wrap.
The Garmin 1000 panel is well proven now - it's basic equipment on everything from Cessna 172s to the new Cessna Mustang Jet. The system architecture is very straightforward - when you release a couple of fasteners and tilt the panel aft (it is hinged at the bottom), you see a rack of LRUs (Line Replaceable Units). As for the display itself - it is substantially the same as a high quality notebook computer display. That is certainly 'tough enough'. The display can be replaced with a new one, if needed, in about 15 minutes. The replacement cost (cost of a whole new display screen) is less than what it costs to ship a conventional electro-mechanical AI or HSI out of Africa to where it can be repaired, and ship it back again.