diff --git a/ArduPlane/ArduPlane.cpp b/ArduPlane/ArduPlane.cpp
index 4b5c26f470..45503027ad 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/ArduPlane.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/ArduPlane.cpp
@@ -649,7 +649,7 @@ void Plane::update_flight_mode(void)
         }
         if (g.fbwa_tdrag_chan > 0) {
             // check for the user enabling FBWA taildrag takeoff mode
-            bool tdrag_mode = (hal.rcin->read(g.fbwa_tdrag_chan-1) > 1700);
+            bool tdrag_mode = (RC_Channels::get_radio_in(g.fbwa_tdrag_chan-1) > 1700);
             if (tdrag_mode && !auto_state.fbwa_tdrag_takeoff_mode) {
                 if (auto_state.highest_airspeed < g.takeoff_tdrag_speed1) {
                     auto_state.fbwa_tdrag_takeoff_mode = true;
diff --git a/ArduPlane/GCS_Mavlink.cpp b/ArduPlane/GCS_Mavlink.cpp
index 75186f01c3..45d3116e56 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/GCS_Mavlink.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/GCS_Mavlink.cpp
@@ -1393,19 +1393,19 @@ void GCS_MAVLINK_Plane::handleMessage(mavlink_message_t* msg)
         // and RC PWM values.
         if(msg->sysid != plane.g.sysid_my_gcs) break;                         // Only accept control from our gcs
         mavlink_rc_channels_override_t packet;
-        int16_t v[8];
+        bool override_active = false;
         mavlink_msg_rc_channels_override_decode(msg, &packet);
 
-        v[0] = packet.chan1_raw;
-        v[1] = packet.chan2_raw;
-        v[2] = packet.chan3_raw;
-        v[3] = packet.chan4_raw;
-        v[4] = packet.chan5_raw;
-        v[5] = packet.chan6_raw;
-        v[6] = packet.chan7_raw;
-        v[7] = packet.chan8_raw;
+        override_active |= RC_Channels::set_override(0, packet.chan1_raw);
+        override_active |= RC_Channels::set_override(1, packet.chan2_raw);
+        override_active |= RC_Channels::set_override(2, packet.chan3_raw);
+        override_active |= RC_Channels::set_override(3, packet.chan4_raw);
+        override_active |= RC_Channels::set_override(4, packet.chan5_raw);
+        override_active |= RC_Channels::set_override(5, packet.chan6_raw);
+        override_active |= RC_Channels::set_override(6, packet.chan7_raw);
+        override_active |= RC_Channels::set_override(7, packet.chan8_raw);
 
-        if (hal.rcin->set_overrides(v, 8)) {
+        if (override_active) {
             plane.failsafe.last_valid_rc_ms = AP_HAL::millis();
             plane.failsafe.AFS_last_valid_rc_ms =  plane.failsafe.last_valid_rc_ms;
         }
@@ -1435,10 +1435,10 @@ void GCS_MAVLINK_Plane::handleMessage(mavlink_message_t* msg)
         int16_t throttle = (packet.z == INT16_MAX) ? 0 : plane.channel_throttle->get_radio_min() + (plane.channel_throttle->get_radio_max() - plane.channel_throttle->get_radio_min()) * (packet.z) / 1000.0f;
         int16_t yaw = (packet.r == INT16_MAX) ? 0 : plane.channel_rudder->get_radio_min() + (plane.channel_rudder->get_radio_max() - plane.channel_rudder->get_radio_min()) * (packet.r + 1000) / 2000.0f;
 
-        override_active |= hal.rcin->set_override(uint8_t(plane.rcmap.roll() - 1), roll);
-        override_active |= hal.rcin->set_override(uint8_t(plane.rcmap.pitch() - 1), pitch);
-        override_active |= hal.rcin->set_override(uint8_t(plane.rcmap.throttle() - 1), throttle);
-        override_active |= hal.rcin->set_override(uint8_t(plane.rcmap.yaw() - 1), yaw);
+        override_active |= RC_Channels::set_override(uint8_t(plane.rcmap.roll() - 1), roll);
+        override_active |= RC_Channels::set_override(uint8_t(plane.rcmap.pitch() - 1), pitch);
+        override_active |= RC_Channels::set_override(uint8_t(plane.rcmap.throttle() - 1), throttle);
+        override_active |= RC_Channels::set_override(uint8_t(plane.rcmap.yaw() - 1), yaw);
 
         if (override_active) {
             plane.failsafe.last_valid_rc_ms = AP_HAL::millis();
diff --git a/ArduPlane/control_modes.cpp b/ArduPlane/control_modes.cpp
index b98fe3e234..0613c22c4b 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/control_modes.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/control_modes.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ void Plane::read_control_switch()
     // as a spring loaded trainer switch).
     if (oldSwitchPosition != switchPosition ||
         (g.reset_switch_chan != 0 &&
-         hal.rcin->read(g.reset_switch_chan-1) > RESET_SWITCH_CHAN_PWM)) {
+         RC_Channels::get_radio_in(g.reset_switch_chan-1) > RESET_SWITCH_CHAN_PWM)) {
 
         if (switch_debouncer == false) {
             // this ensures that mode switches only happen if the
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ void Plane::read_control_switch()
     }
 
     if (g.reset_mission_chan != 0 &&
-        hal.rcin->read(g.reset_mission_chan-1) > RESET_SWITCH_CHAN_PWM) {
+        RC_Channels::get_radio_in(g.reset_mission_chan-1) > RESET_SWITCH_CHAN_PWM) {
         mission.start();
         prev_WP_loc = current_loc;
     }
@@ -55,12 +55,12 @@ void Plane::read_control_switch()
     if (g.inverted_flight_ch != 0) {
         // if the user has configured an inverted flight channel, then
         // fly upside down when that channel goes above INVERTED_FLIGHT_PWM
-        inverted_flight = (control_mode != MANUAL && hal.rcin->read(g.inverted_flight_ch-1) > INVERTED_FLIGHT_PWM);
+        inverted_flight = (control_mode != MANUAL && RC_Channels::get_radio_in(g.inverted_flight_ch-1) > INVERTED_FLIGHT_PWM);
     }
 
 #if PARACHUTE == ENABLED
     if (g.parachute_channel > 0) {
-        if (hal.rcin->read(g.parachute_channel-1) >= 1700) {
+        if (RC_Channels::get_radio_in(g.parachute_channel-1) >= 1700) {
             parachute_manual_release();
         }
     }
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ void Plane::read_control_switch()
 #if HAVE_PX4_MIXER
     if (g.override_channel > 0) {
         // if the user has configured an override channel then check it
-        bool override_requested = (hal.rcin->read(g.override_channel-1) >= PX4IO_OVERRIDE_PWM);
+        bool override_requested = (RC_Channels::get_radio_in(g.override_channel-1) >= PX4IO_OVERRIDE_PWM);
         if (override_requested && !px4io_override_enabled) {
             if (hal.util->get_soft_armed() || (last_mixer_crc != -1)) {
                 px4io_override_enabled = true;
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ void Plane::read_control_switch()
 
 uint8_t Plane::readSwitch(void)
 {
-    uint16_t pulsewidth = hal.rcin->read(g.flight_mode_channel - 1);
+    uint16_t pulsewidth = RC_Channels::get_radio_in(g.flight_mode_channel - 1);
     if (pulsewidth <= 900 || pulsewidth >= 2200) return 255;            // This is an error condition
     if (pulsewidth <= 1230) return 0;
     if (pulsewidth <= 1360) return 1;
diff --git a/ArduPlane/events.cpp b/ArduPlane/events.cpp
index f5ee41f45e..872ddbf60f 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/events.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/events.cpp
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ void Plane::failsafe_long_on_event(enum failsafe_state fstype, mode_reason_t rea
     // This is how to handle a long loss of control signal failsafe.
     gcs().send_text(MAV_SEVERITY_WARNING, "Failsafe. Long event on: type=%u/reason=%u", fstype, reason);
     //  If the GCS is locked up we allow control to revert to RC
-    hal.rcin->clear_overrides();
+    RC_Channels::clear_overrides();
     failsafe.state = fstype;
     switch(control_mode)
     {
diff --git a/ArduPlane/failsafe.cpp b/ArduPlane/failsafe.cpp
index 49ed8225e9..7d7eb54448 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/failsafe.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/failsafe.cpp
@@ -47,13 +47,13 @@ void Plane::failsafe_check(void)
             afs.heartbeat();
         }
 
-        if (hal.rcin->num_channels() < 5) {
+        if (RC_Channels::get_valid_channel_count() < 5) {
             // we don't have any RC input to pass through
             return;
         }
 
         // pass RC inputs to outputs every 20ms
-        hal.rcin->clear_overrides();
+        RC_Channels::clear_overrides();
 
         int16_t roll = channel_roll->get_control_in_zero_dz();
         int16_t pitch = channel_pitch->get_control_in_zero_dz();
diff --git a/ArduPlane/geofence.cpp b/ArduPlane/geofence.cpp
index 54eb674920..95a48f0e2f 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/geofence.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/geofence.cpp
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ void Plane::geofence_update_pwm_enabled_state()
     if (g.fence_channel == 0) {
         is_pwm_enabled = false;
     } else {
-        is_pwm_enabled = (hal.rcin->read(g.fence_channel-1) > FENCE_ENABLE_PWM);
+        is_pwm_enabled = (RC_Channels::get_radio_in(g.fence_channel-1) > FENCE_ENABLE_PWM);
     }
     if (is_pwm_enabled && geofence_state == nullptr) {
         // we need to load the fence
diff --git a/ArduPlane/radio.cpp b/ArduPlane/radio.cpp
index afc1c031a6..96b2c03bf2 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/radio.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/radio.cpp
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ void Plane::rudder_arm_disarm_check()
 
 void Plane::read_radio()
 {
-    if (!hal.rcin->new_input()) {
+    if (!RC_Channels::has_new_input()) {
         control_failsafe();
         return;
     }
diff --git a/ArduPlane/tailsitter.cpp b/ArduPlane/tailsitter.cpp
index 1d77e24557..98626994e2 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/tailsitter.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/tailsitter.cpp
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ void QuadPlane::tailsitter_output(void)
     
     if (tailsitter.input_mask_chan > 0 &&
         tailsitter.input_mask > 0 &&
-        hal.rcin->read(tailsitter.input_mask_chan-1) > 1700) {
+        RC_Channels::get_radio_in(tailsitter.input_mask_chan-1) > 1700) {
         // the user is learning to prop-hang
         if (tailsitter.input_mask & TAILSITTER_MASK_AILERON) {
             SRV_Channels::set_output_scaled(SRV_Channel::k_aileron, plane.channel_roll->get_control_in_zero_dz());