We're on a roll! For the 4th consecutive year, our avionics product support was ranked #1 by the readers of Professional Pilot magazine. This is a very prestigious award and we have to stay on our toes year-round because the avionics market has fierce competition. When Professional Pilot publishes the winner in their magazine, they also publish some
customer comments. Here's one of our favorites,"Garmin is our choice for every upgrade opportunity. Their
technology is unsurpassed, and their technical support is great."
You may recall that our avionics product support team also won Aviation International News magazine's support survey back in September. Both of these awards are a huge team effort and we're extremely proud of them. But don't worry, we're not going to rest on our laurels. We've already started looking at ways to serve you even better in 2008.
A huge THANKS to all of our customers who voted for us and congrats to everyone on the avionics product support team!
Those of us that fly during the winter have to take special consideration for the weather. The biggest fear for pilots during this time of year is icing, and unless you are flying an airplane with bleed air and the climbing ability of the Space Shuttle, then you generally try to avoid ice. To help you avoid the ice we have the freezing level charts on the GPSMAP 396/496 and the G1000. Through XM Satellite Radio the freezing level is downloaded to your Garmin system and displayed in a color-coded fashion along with an altitude. The chart is the lowest forecasted altitude where freezing condition are likely to occur. Now, we all know that forecasts are about as accurate as predicting the next Super Bowl winner (my guess is the Patriots) and can change without notice. Always check with Flight Service for the latest data on the freezing level.
You may not think a GPS device could actually save a life, but Ron Rosberg, a radio technology commentator on ABC and XM, knows otherwise. Ron has been using Garmin products for a very long time. He regularly mentions our automotive or handheld devices on his show, but last week he had a close call that has him singing the praises of an aviation product, the GPSMAP 496. Ron is an instrument-rated pilot and when he experienced a complete electrical failure on an IFR night, the 496 guided him and his copilot to land safely. Of course, the 496 isn't an IFR certified box, but when you have a complete electrical failure and the 496 is the only thing working in your airplane, it becomes extremely valuable. Listen to how the 496 helped him get out of a harrowing situation.
GPS users all over the world got an early present on December 21st. The United States Air Force launched the fifth modern NAVSTAR GPS satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Other than adding new channels to the military side of GPS for better accuracy, the new satellites will also increase strength of the GPS signal and add a second civilian signal. The Air Force is in the process of updating the GPS satellite constellation.
Also the FAA recently announced that WAAS signal is now active in Mexico and Canada. For you pilots that fly North and South of the borders on a regular basis you will shortly start to see GPS WAAS approaches showing up on approach charts in Mexico and Canada. The FAA worked with NavCanada and Servicios a la Navegación en el Espacío Aéreo Mexicano (SENEAM) and signed agreements with both countries to operate the new WAAS stations to supplement the USA systems.
Recently there was a comment on a post asking for clarification about WAAS
approaches. The question, “How can a pilot determine from an approach
plate if an LNAV GPS approach will offer the LNAV+V option?” can
quickly be answered by saying there is not true way to determine this
yet.
There are several factors that have to be first be considered.
First, the most important part is positional accuracy. If the
positional accuracy is good enough, you can receive the +V option on a
LNAV approach. If for some reason the GPS/WAAS signal is not accurate
enough, you will only get a LNAV approach annunciation. The second
factor in getting the +V option is the databases. The electronic
databases are easier to change and update than the paper charts. It is
possible for the electronic database to have a +V coding, and the paper
chart, while still current and accurate, won't have the “>”
symbol on the chart. With each cycle of new paper charts, the lack of
a “>” will slowly start to disappear and you will be able to
determine if you get +V on an LNAV approach. I have included a NOAA
chart and Jeppesen chart to show how a LNAV+V
approach will show in the chart. The angle of the glidslope is
highlighted in red.
Having Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD) in the cockpit has improved safety and increased situational awareness over the last couple of years. When Garmin introduced the GPSMAP 396, pilots discovered it’s an inexpensive way to see actual weather in the airplane. However, understanding the data on the screen is an important part of the decision making process.
NEXRAD has two modes -- Clear Air mode and Precipitation mode. The Clear Air mode is the most sensitive mode and scans the air the slowest in a given time. The Clear Air mode is so sensitive that it can easily pick up birds, bugs, airplanes, and airborne dust causing false returns to the radar station. Since the Clear Air mode is usually used to detect snow because snow is less reflective than rain. Precipitation mode is less sensitivity. It is used to detect rain and hail since rain and hail are highly reflective. The Precipitation mode scans the air faster and also at higher tilts angles. In Clear Air mode the maximum tilt for the radar is 4.5 degrees, while in Precipitation mode the radar will go to 19.5 degrees. This allows meteorologist to see the entire storm instead of only a small cross section. If you want a better understanding of how the NEXRAD radar works, check out NOAA National Weather Service website.
This past weekend I was watching TV and came across a show about a guy trying to fly a powered paraglider over Mount Everest. That guy was Bear Grylls from the Discovery Channel show Man vs. Wild where he purposely strands himself (and some poor cameraman) in remote locations and shows you how to survive. While flying a powered paraglider over MT Everest is not my type of flying adventure, it is an interesting way to see Nepal. While watching the show, I saw them using a Garmin eTrex Legend as their GPS. Well not a true aviation unit, many people flying hanggliders, paragliders, ultralights, or even parachuting use the outdoor units as a means for navigation. The outdoor or recreation units can provide users with detail mapping, color displays, and even barometer information to see how high you are. Garmin has also designed the outdoor units to included features like glide ratio calculations and jumpmaster to help see how far you can go while going through the air. So if you are an aviation adventurer and need an inexpensive GPS for use while flying, take a look at the outdoor units. The outdoor units have many of the same basic features as the aviation units and are just as useful.
As you might already know, everyone here on the Garmin blog loves the outdoors and we try to enjoy it whenever we can. This past weekend a friend invited me to join in on opening weekend of firearm season for deer in Missouri. We flew his SR-22 to southern Missouri where the hunt was going to take place, which is normally about an hour flight. However, using the GPSMAP 496 and XM Weather we were able to see that the winds at 12,000 feet were blowing 35 knots giving us a huge push if we climbed to 11,500 feet. The trip took less than 45 minutes and we had a ground speed of 212 knots. What is the moral of the story? If you have a GPSMAP 396/496 with XM Weather, make sure you use all the available information that you have at your finger tips. You’ll be surprised how it can affect your flight.
Last Friday a friend called me on his way past the airport and said the Diamond D-Jet road show was at our local FBO. Usually I am pretty up to date with the latest happening related to aviation in the Kansas City area, but this one sneaked under my radar. Saturday awoke to beautiful weather and I figured this was a good time get some exercise and check out the D-Jet. I got the mountain bike out for one last ride of the year before I move the riding indoors. I know what you are thinking and that I am trying to keep up with Peg and Jake. Well not really, they like to run and I don’t. Enough said. Getting up inside cockpit I got to see the G1000 in the three screen setup with 2 Primary Flight Displays flanking a huge 15” Multi-Function Display. With Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) on the aircraft this will help reduce work load for the pilot and help save some jet fuel as well. The D-Jet tour is still has a few weeks left and if it is coming to an airport near you I would recommend checking it out.
Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) has become a way of life for pilots. Getting a briefing on existing TFR can be challenging and with the current fires in Southern California getting larger more TFR’s are expected to come. When you subscribe to the basic Aviator Lite package from XM you will receive TFR information on your GPSMAP 396/496, GNS 430/530, or G1000. By knowing the TFR information you will help stay out of the way of aircraft supporting the fire fighters that are on the ground. You can find out more information about the TFR by highlighting the TFR with the cursor. This will pull up information like the vertical limits of the TFR and the TFR identification code.
As the number of airplanes with WAAS-equipped GNS 430/530 units grow, I keep getting more and more questions about WAAS and what it will do for you. One of the most common questions is about the annunciations that tell you the type of approach. Well, let me break down the annunciations for you. The first one is the LPV annunciation or precision GPS approach. When you see LPV illuminated on the bottom left of the corner of the display, you can use the LPV minimums listed on the approach chart. The next annunciation that you could see is the L/VNAV. This is the LNAV/VNAV that is listed on the approach chart. This is not a precision approach like the LPV, but the glide slope that shows up guarantees vertical guidance over obstacles and has its own minimums. The third annunciation is the LNAV+V. The LNAV+V non-precision approaches have glide slope information but do not guarantee obstacle clearance. Instead, it provides guidance for a stabilized approach. You will want to use the approach chart’s LNAV minimums on the approach. The last annunciation is the plain Jane LNAV, which is for non-GPS approaches like ILS, Localizer, or non-precision GPS approaches that do not have any vertical guidance. For these LNAV approaches you will want to use the approach chart’s corresponding minima for that approach.
AOPA Expo in Hartford CT is now in full swing. While the crowds seem small for opening day, many people stopped by the Garmin booth making it one of the popular booths of the show. Every trade show has new announcements and this show is no different. Once again the G1000's Garmin GFC 700 is making news with Cessna now adding the autopilot to the venerable Skyhawk. Now the same autopilot that is guiding the Cessna Mustang through the sky is now standard equipped in all of the piston airplanes. Also WAAS, SafeTaxi, and FliteCharts will become standard options on all new Skyhawk, Skylane, and Stationair aircraft.
The AOPA Expo starts tomorrow in Hartford, CT so the usual mad dash out of Garmin headquarters to a local airport commenced this morning. With the weather injecting drama to the Midwest, we are opting to leave the company planes in the hangar and fly the airlines to get over the weather. By the time you read this post on Wednesday, I'll be somewhere over Indiana at 31,000 feet. If you are reading this on Thursday, you’re probably still in the office and my heart goes out to you. But as always, I will have updates throughout AOPA Expo and I might even show you some of the sites. If you are attending the show make sure you stop by the Garmin booth (#1221) and get the latest information on all of Garmin’s products. See you in Hartford!
I'm sure everyone in the Garmin blogosphere has been waiting with bated breath for another NBAA blog post. Well, the show was so busy that I didn't do a daily post like I originally planned, but never fear, I'm back with a wrap-up post.
The last day of NBAA was yesterday and it was another record breaking year. NBAA is the eighth largest trade show in the U.S. More than 1,100 exhibitors were showing off their wares and thousands of show-goers walked through the exhibition hall and the aircraft static display. The Garmin booth was busy from opening to close. Many people stopped by to learn more about our four NBAA announcements -- Garmin glass on the Caravan, PiperJet, TBM
850, and King Air 200 and B200. Because the G1000 is on so many different aircraft, attendees could demo the G1000 in our booth or at many OEM partners booths.
Those who weren't looking for the G1000 were often intrigued by other products in our booth. We had our whole aviation line-up, from the G600 and panel mounts to Pilot My-Cast by Garmin. We also included a few automotive products for good measure. After all, we don't want pilots to get lost on their way to the hangar!
Today is the opening day of NBAA, and because there is so much going on, I'm going to keep this post short. Since we had so much fun yesterday with two G1000 announcements, we decided to do two more today. Piper and Socata both held press conferences this afternoon and announced that they have selected Garmin glass for their respective aircraft. The PiperJet is a clean-sheet light jet that is scheduled to be delivered in 2010. The Socata TBM 850 is the world's fastest single engine turboprop and is currently delivered with a Garmin GNS 530 avionics stack. More details to come later!
It's the day before the doors open for the 60th annual National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention, and the fun has already begun. This year the show is in sunny Atlanta, Georgia, so I left my runway for the week to bring you the latest and greatest aviation news. You'll want to check back regularly because there are always lots of big announcements at this show, and so far, we have two of them.
If you like attending aviation conventions then the next two weeks are for you. If you are looking for a new business jet, the NBAA convention is the place where you can indulge your dreams. Next Tuesday, starts the 60th annual NBAA Convention in Atlanta, GA. Fast forward to the following week and you'll be able to see smaller aircraft at the AOPA Expo, which begins October 4. AOPA attendees will be basking in the beautiful fall colors of Hartford, CT. Garmin will be at both of these conventions answering all of your questions, and we will, of course, have all the Garmin Avionics on display.
I am sure many of you are aware of the multi-function display (MFD) trade-in we have going on where you can trade-in a MFD for a GMX 200 and get $4,000 off. If you’re still on the fence and need a good reason to take advantage of the trade-in, have I got a good one for you! Recently, the GMX200 was approved as a Class 3 EFB (Electronic Flight Bag). That means you can use the electronic charts as a replacement for paper charts. You can use the GMX 200 with 2.12 or later software for area, approach, and airport charts instead of the paper charts. If you ever wanted to go paperless this is a start in the right direction, so get off the fence and save a tree.
Extra, Extra, Read All About It...Garmin was ranked #1 among avionics manufacturers by Aviation International News (AIN) magazine. Thanks to you, our amazing customers who took the time to respond to AIN's 2007 avionics product support survey, this is the fourth year in a row that we've been named to the top spot. According to AIN, customers ranked us high "because parts are easy to come by, they're relatively inexpensive and, probably most important, the company's products hardly ever seem to break." The article goes on to say, "But by and large, pilots and mechanics were effusive in their praise for Garmin's products, judging the quality as good to excellent and support among the industry's best." You can read the complete article here.
Thanks again to our customers who voted us to this coveted spot. We look forward to serving you for many more years to come.
The venerable King Air C90 is leading the way for a retrofit G1000. So much interest has been generated by this retrofit that Garmin has launched a mini-site that explains the C90's G1000 features. The mini-site also has a STC eligibility list so you can see where your particular King Air serial number falls. For those of you dreaming about the G1000 in your King Air, there are even G1000 wallpaper images you can download to your computer's desktop. Get your C90 started on a path to a complete cockpit overhaul and buzz by the website and check it out.
FRIDAY! FRIDAY! FRIDAY! August 31 is the last day you can take advantage of the WAAS low pricing! After Friday, the $1,500 upgrade deal is over.
Work with me here…I’m trying to try to do my best used car commercial announcer impersonation. You should try reading the first sentence in a booming, loud voice, and if you scare the neighbors, just tell them that you are practicing your impersonations too. If you are reading this post after this Friday, then you are too late.
On September 1, the pricing for the WAAS upgrade goes up to $3,000. Some of you still haven't taken advantage of the WAAS upgradeand there is still time for you to get the lower price. Call your Garmin avionics dealer by this Friday and they can get your GNS430/530 WAAS upgrade locked in at $1,500. You do not need to have the WAAS upgrade installed by this Friday, but it does need to be installed by May 2008. I know some of you are waiting for a software update that allows the upgraded WAAS units to be integrated into other avionics systems. You will still want to contact a dealer but have them note that you are waiting on software from your avionics manufacturer.
You already know that Garmin.com provides you with training information, manual, updates, and the list goes on and on. One place you might not have visited on the web is the NavData Alert section. The entire Garmin panel mount and integrated systems lines use the Jeppesen databases. In the event that there is a problem with any of Jepp databases, like the electronic or paper databases, Jepp will send out a notice about the error. Jeppesen includes NavData Alerts on their website for both paper and electronic charts. In the event that the error could affect the databases on your Garmin unit, a notice is placed on Garmin.com too. Errors range from typo’s on approach plates to wrong identifiers within the electronic databases. Generally, the errors have also been marked with a NOTAM and you’re notified when you call Flight Service. Corrections are done by the next cycle, so any problems are only temporary.
I know some of you fly planes that have the Airspeed indicator readout in mile per hour (MPH) instead of knots. I flew a Piper Arrow for many years like this. Maybe you live overseas and you’ve seen road signs in Kilometers per hour (Km/H) or distance is in kilometers instead of statute miles. When you look down at your GPS and the number are not matching. Well, one of the features of the aviation portable and panel mounts units is the ability to customize it to your needs. Both the panel and portable units have the ability for you to change the measure units to match what you need to use. You can change everything from distance to temperature on the portable and panel mounted units. Once you match the GPS with what you are seeing in the real world, you will remove any confusing numbers from the display.
Navigating Airspace + +Map = Reduced Workload and More Fun
Garmin is located south of Kansas City's Class B
airspace, so it can cause some extra work if we want to fly north or
northeast. One of the rarely used
features of the GNS530/430is the +Map waypoint. Using this +Map
waypoint is similar to the rubber band feature that I covered on the portable
units back in May. As before, you must
have a flight plan loaded with two or more points. On the Navigation 2 page, use the cursor and
move it to the area you want to fly to. Then go direct to the cursor,
which will show the magenta line going to the cursor on the map. Now, go to the Flight Plan page and move the
cursor to the aviation waypoint that is below where you want to enter the
+Map. Dial in the +Map waypoint into the
flight plan and you’ve inserted the +Map into your current flight plan. This can be alifesaver if you need
to get around some airspace or weather.
Well, the whirlwind we call AirVenture Oshkosh has come to an end. This year was another great year. Our booth was always packed wall-to-wall with people and customers wanted to know about all of our products -- from Pilot My-Cast by Garmin to GNS 530 WAAS upgrades.
Since one of the biggest highlights for Oshkosh attendees is the air show, we decided the only proper way to end our Oshkosh video montage was with one of our favorite air show acts. And just to keep you on the edge of your seat, you're going to see what it feels like to watch aerobatic loops from the ground...and air. Enjoy and we'll see you next year at Oshkosh!
While at Oshkosh, I'm always looking for exciting news about airplanes that have a Garmin connection. Today's video shows me at the Cessna and Quest exhibits. They have both made announcements that involve Garmin -- Cessna's SkyCatcher has the G300 and the newly certified Quest KODIAK has the G1000.
One questions we've heard repeatedly at Oshkosh is to explain the benefits of WAAS. Many of you have already shot your first WAAS approach and know that it's a beautiful thing. For those who haven't flown a WAAS approach yet, you’re falling behind the power curve. WAAS is on the charts now and you need a Garmin 430W or 530W to take advantage of it. Over 5,000 vertical guidance approaches bring GPS “glideslopes” to the masses, and you’ll start to navigate as low as 200 feet above the runway end. If you haven't upgraded your box or put your order in, you'll want to act fast. Now through August 31, the upgrade is $1,500. After August 31, the upgrade will cost $2,995. If you're still trying to make up your mind on if you should do the upgrade, here are a few things you should know. When you get a WAAS upgrade, you'll receive a new GPS receiver that updates five times faster than your old receiver, a new processor that gives instant map redraws, a new WAAS antenna, all new operating software, data cards with more memory, and terrain will be added if you didn’t already have it installed. Still not convinced? Check out this video of an approach. VOR #1 (on top) shows a GPS WAAS approach and VOR #2 (on bottom) shows a traditional ILS approach. Watch how the needles are synchronized. It's WAASome!
Well, I promised you video and here's the first of several videos that will give you a taste of what we're doing at Oshkosh.
And as a reminder for those already at EAA AirVenture or planning to come to the show -- don't forget to bring us your portable GPS (only aviation products) for a FREE operating software update. The update only takes a few minutes to complete, and it will ensure that you're using the best software we have to offer for your GPS. If you're not able to come to the show but still want the free software update, click here.
The airplanes are coming! The airplanes are coming! And since today is
the first day of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, we should probably be saying,
the airplanes are here! Today is the first day of the greatest aviation show on earth and the Garmin crew is here in full force. And of course, I'm here adding yet another summer adventure to my logbook. This show is like a huge candy store for pilots. Over 3,000 airplanes come for the week and they literally fill every patch of grass surrounding the airport. There are always great things to see at Oshkosh, and if you stop by the Garmin booth in Hangar D you'll be amazed by Garmin's Oshkosh greatness. We have big rebates on products -- like $100 off a 496 or $1000 off two panel mounts or $2000 off three panel mounts -- not to mention free seminars and software updates. Perhaps one of the biggest announcements is that you can save $2500 off of your future G600 purchase if you buy a 430W/530W combination, two 430Ws, or two 530Ws between March 1 and November 30, 2007. What a bargain! That's a whopping $2500 discount on your G600, plus we have our buy 2/ buy 3 panel mount rebate going on so it's possible to save up to $4500. These discounts are just the tip of the Oshkosh news iceberg. Have you heard about Pilot My-Cast by Garmin, or how about Cessna's new SkyCatcher with a Garmin G300 cockpit? There's just too much to tell and not enough time! Stop by tomorrow and we'll have more show updates.
We receive weekly calls from 496 owners asking how to load automotive maps on their 496. Well, do I have some great news for you...you don't have to load auto maps! When we announced the GPSMAP 496
with automotive maps preloaded on the unit, a whole new world was opened
to many of you. When you purchased the
496 it is ready for use in an airplane and
the vehicle
of your choice with a simple push of a button. One of the nice features of the 496 being preloaded with the automotive
maps is you do not have to load maps onto the unit like you would with the GPSMAP 296
or the GPSMAP
396. However, we still include a copy
of the MapSource
City Navigator on a DVD-ROM in the 496's box so that you have the ability to load the software on your computer and use the waypoint and track log
manager.
Many of you rent airplanes from your local flight school and some of those planes need a serious panel upgrade. Because some of the planes might be lacking a GPS on-board you have decided to pick up a Garmin portable unit. I bet many of you wish you also had the ability to have traffic avoidance in the plane and your nights of wishing upon that star have finally been answered. A company called Zaon Flight Systems has developed a Portable Collision Avoidance System or PCAS for your GPSMAP 396 and 496 called the XRX. Using the TIS interface the PCAS XRX will send traffic information to the display on your 396 and 496 units. The XRX is a passive system that has the ability to give you direction information of the target and can track up to 10 aircraft. The XRX will operate outside of the TIS covered areas providing you with traffic information for most of your trip.
I know buying avionics is a
large investment to any aircraft owner thinking about upgrading their panel. Many of you are considering Garmin avionics,
but sometimes your wish list and wallet don’t sync. Maybe you’re still deciding which avionics to
put in your aircraft. Well, have I got a
deal for you! Garmin is offering several
promotions that will help you upgrade your panel or add the weather capabilities
you’ve been wanting. Our buy 2/buy 3
rebate coupon lets you save $1000 or $2000 on select panel mounts. If you
already have a Garmin panel but have an old MFD, no worries. We have a trade-in
program for you to upgrade to the GMX200. Do you need a new radar system to replace the old one under the
radome? If you add a GMX 200 you will get some cash back for the install. Check out our
site for all the rebate details and contact the dealer nearest you to schedule your
latest upgrade to your airplane.
We're on a roll! For the 4th consecutive year, our avionics product support was ranked #1 by the readers of Professional Pilot magazine. This is a very prestigious award and we have to stay on our toes year-round because the avionics market has fierce competition. When Professional Pilot publishes the winner in their magazine, they also publish some
customer comments. Here's one of our favorites,"Garmin is our choice for every upgrade opportunity. Their
technology is unsurpassed, and their technical support is great." 
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