Roger's Runway: SVT Pathways

The big feature of any synthetic system is the 3D terrain and the highway in the sky (HITS), and the new Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) for the G1000 is no different. The 3D terrain and the SVT’s version of the HITS, called Pathways, bring a new level of confidence to the cockpit. The Pathway boxes (which are 700 feet wide by 200 feet tall) offer course guidance for all phases of flight from en route legs, approach procedures, and finally arrival and departure procedures. One of the really nice features is that each of these legs is colored coded based on the navigation source - just like the HSI changes colors. So if the navigation source is GPS then the Pathway boxes are colored magenta. If the source is a VOR or localizer then the Pathway box is green. White Pathway boxes represent legs of the flight that are not activated yet. The Pathways also provide descent information for programmed legs, like approaches. If you have an ILS or a LPV approach loaded into you flight plan then the Pathways will actually gradually move down representing the glide slope. As long as you fly through the boxes, then the Pathway will guide you to your destination.

Roger's Runway: SVT Obstacles

Last week I talked about the 3D traffic feature on the new Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) upgrade for the G1000. This week I am introducing the 3D obstacles that SVT brings to the cockpit. Garmin has had a database for obstacles ever since we introduced the GPSMAP 196 to customers. This obstacle database made its way to other portable aviation units, then to panel mounted units, and finally the G1000. With the SVT, the obstacle (like the traffic) shows up on the PFD and places it in relation to your flight path. So if you are slightly to the right of the tower, then it will show on the left-hand side of the PFD. If you are within 1000 feet of the obstacle, it will show up in yellow just letting you know that you need to proceed with caution. If you are within 100 feet, then the obstacle will be shown in red letting you know that you need to change course or you are going to have issues with that obstacle. Remember, obstacles are going to be classified as any man-made object that is 200 AGL or higher. If it is made out of dirt or granite, then it will be part of the 3D terrain.

   

Roger's Runway: Traffic at 2 o'clock

By now you've probably heard of the G1000's new Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT). The main feature of SVT is the 3D terrain, but here in Kansas and other areas lacking those big pieces of rock better known as mountains, we pay lots of attention to the other features SVT brings to the table, such as traffic. Normal traffic systems display the track in a top-down or bird's eye view. The G1000's SVT shows 3D traffic at the approximate position in relation to your attitude. If traffic is about 1,000 feet above you at your 2 o’clock position, then the SVT will display the traffic on the PFD at 2 o’clock and slightly above the horizon. Instead of straining your eyes and neck to figure out where the aircraft might be in relation to the horizon, SVT helps you locate the traffic quicker and take action sooner. Since they say a picture is worth a thousand words, check out these screen shots and you'll see how much easier it is to identify traffic with SVT.

Roger's Runway: Flying Glass with Quartz Mountain

Last week at Sun 'n Fun, Garmin announced the latest edition to the integrated glass cockpit - the G950 avionics suite. The first company to select this newest family member is Quartz Mountain Aerospace for their 11E. Many of you are probably wondering what the difference is between this new suite and the G1000 system. Well, the G950 shares many features of its big brother G1000; it uses the same displays, has the same weather ability, and the same terrain and obstacle data. The G950 even has the ability to display the Garmin SafeTaxi and FliteCharts. The biggest difference between the two is that the G950 does not come with the GFC 700 autopilot. That being said, the G950 is a good fit for OEM customers that desire to have G1000 capability but are willing to do the certification on their own. I got a chance to see the 11E at Sun 'n Fun, and I can definitely say that the G950 will be a good fit for this airplane.

Sun 'n Fun and WAAS Ride Along

Sun 'n Fun has come and gone and it was a great show for us. At times, it felt like the entire state of Florida was there to see what we had to offer. Of course, everyone wanted a demo of the G1000's new Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT), and can you blame them? One glance at the G1000's SVT 3D terrain, traffic and obstacles will make any pilot drool.  The really great thing about SVT is that it's retrofittable, so any G1000 pilot will have a chance to fly with SVT in the future. Those not flying with the G1000 yet are likely flying with the GNS 430/530, and we received numerous questions at Sun 'n Fun about the benefits of making the 430/530 WAAS compatible. Flying magazine recently published an article on WAAS, and it's great reading for those who want to get up to speed. For those who want the super short, cliff notes version of WAAS, you can watch two of our newest WAAS commercials (and then visit Flying's site to get the details).

Sounds of Sun 'n Fun

The Sun 'n Fun fly-in is still going strong and will be throughout the weekend. Our booth is packed to capacity as attendees learn which of our products are best for them. For those that have never been to Sun 'n Fun but plan to visit us this weekend in Lakeland, Florida, don't forget that we do portable software updates at the show for FREE! Yep, I said free. Just bring your portable aviation device (not panel mount cards) with you to our booth and we'll do a software update on the spot. The software update will only take a few minutes and it will help keep your portable GPS in top shape. While you're at our booth doing the software update, you might also hear some of our commercials over the airways. Here's are two more WAAS radio commercials for your listening pleasure.

Roger's Runway: Flying through the announcements

This has already been a busy week for Garmin at Sun 'n Fun. As you may have heard, so far we have announced the G1000 with SVT, the G950 with launch customer Quartz Aerospace, and enhancements to the GMX 200. Sun 'n Fun is also the first public showing of the GPSMAP 495. Since many of you go to shows like Sun 'n Fun to do some shopping, let me tell you about these enhancements that are being done to the GMX 200 and help you start an upgrade to your panel. All new GMX 200’s delivered after April 7, will come with FliteCharts and SafeTaxi at no additional charge. With FliteCharts loaded to your GMX 200 you now can go paperless in the cockpit because the GMX 200 classifies as a Class 3 Electronic Flight Bag. With the addition of SafeTaxi to the GMX 200, taxiing at airports just got safer. Having used SafeTaxi at airports like Chicago’s Midway and Wichita’s Mid-Continent airports, it is worth it's weight in gold. Also if you want to make updating easier, you can order a second card at a reduced cost. For those of you that already have the GMX 200, but do not have FliteCharts and SafeTaxi, you can still add them to your unit. Just get in touch with a Garmin authorized dealer and they can order the upgrade for you. 

On the Radio at Sun 'n Fun

We're having fun in the sun here in Lakeland, Florida, and have made several announcements you should know about -- if you don't already. On Monday, we announced Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) certification and enhancements to the GMX 200 that include SafeTaxi and FliteCharts.  On Tuesday, we announced the G950 and Quartz Mountain Aerospace is the first OEM to select this new cockpit. And of course, you can't forget about the WAAS announcements we made earlier that are sweeping through general aviation. Here are two of our newest WAAS radio spots that just began airing at Sun 'n Fun.

Two spots below. #1 = Alien UFO #2 = Can Opener

Let the Sun 'n Fun begin

This stunning picture has made a name for itself as one of the most frequently asked about photos on the Garmin home page. Pilots and Garmin avionics fans from near and far have written in wondering where this scenic runway is located in hopes of making it their next destination.

But before we fill you in on the details, we want to hear from you! And since today kicked off this year's Sun 'n Fun avionics show in Lakeland, FL, what better way to start a week of flying fun than to have a giveaway?

If you think you've got it figured out, be one of the first to send the Garmin Blog crew a note with the correct answer and we'll send you some cool Garmin schwag! Good luck and keep checking back for more updates from the show.

Roger's Runway: Portable spring cleaning

With Sun 'n Fun starting next week and most of the United States thawing out from winter, now would be a good time to get your portable aviation GPS ready for the upcoming flying season. Since many of you do not fly through the winter and your unit has probably been sitting for awhile, there are a couple things that you will need to do to ready your GPS. First thing you want to do is update the GPS with the latest software and database updates. The databases cover the Jeppesen, obstacle, terrain, SafeTaxi, and AOPA data are available through the Garmin website. The software updates are also on the Garmin website and help keep your GPS in tip-top shape. Also, if your unit has been sitting for a while, it might not be able to acquire satellites because the almanac that the unit uses is out of date. To correct this, start with the unit turned off and press the zoom out button down and hold. Then turn the unit on using the power button and release the out button and take it outside. After 30 minutes the unit should be locked onto satellites and ready to go. Getting your GPS ready for flying will make your flying this summer safer and more reliable.

Roger's Runway: GPSMAP 495 takes flight

At the last few events, many of you have asked me when the next portable unit would come out. Some of you even asked when the phantom GPSMAP 596 would be available. Well look no further - the next portable aviation unit is here (sorry folks, but it is not the GPSMAP 596). Introducing the GPSMAP 495 which is like the GPSMAP 496 but at a lower cost. Many of you wanted a unit that was similar to the GPSMAP 496, but did not want to spend the extra money. The GPSMAP 495 has the low cost ($1595.00) and has everything that the 496 has with two exceptions - XM weather, and pre-loaded City Navigator NT. This portable unit does feature: SafeTaxi, AOPA airport directory, enhanced terrain warning, 5Hz GPS receiver, Smart Airspace, and private airports and heliports. And even though the GPSMAP 495 does not come with the City Navigator NT loaded, you still retain the ability to load road maps and marine charts to the unit. As for the other exception, the GPSMAP 495 does not have the ability to display any XM WX satellite weather data, so the unit will not come with a GXM 30A antenna.

Now, I bet you're wondering when you can get your hands on one of these units. And the answer is soon! You'll be able to take your first look and purchase this new unit at Sun 'n Fun April 8-13.

PS: There will also be a $100 rebate on the purchase of a GPSMAP 495 at the show!

Roger's Runway: Changing frequencies

I admit I'm not the type of guy that goes out and looks for extra work. Yeah, you could even call me lazy, but I look at it as working more efficiently. That's why one nice feature about the GNS 530W/430W and the G1000 is that they help reduce workload in how frequencies can be entered into the systems. There's a multitude of ways to change radio frequencies. One way is to do it the old fashion way - by using the COM knobs and dial the correct digits into the COM radio. This method works well when you are not changing frequencies very often. However, when you are changing frequencies often in a short period of time, like taxing and takeoff, you'll want a quick way to enter the next frequency. If you go to the waypoint page on either the GNS 530W/430W or G1000, you'll see all the frequencies needed from start up to takeoff listed in chronological order. As you highlight each one and press the enter button, the frequencies will go to the standby column on the unit. Press the flip-flop button and now you are ready to talk. Leave the waypoint page up and repeat the process for the next frequency. I think you, too, will find that you 'll become more lazy efficient when entering frequencies.

Roger's Runway: Weather safety

Last Thursday, a group of us here at Garmin attended the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's Top 5 Mistakes Pilots Make seminar at a local FBO. Most of us were surprised that weather related accidents ranked number three on the list. One remark that presenter Mark Grady mentioned was about on-broad weather radar- specifically services similar to what you would see on the GPSMAP 396/496, GNS 530/430, GMX 200, G1000. Mark pointed out that the same type of weather is also used by Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC) in their facilities to help pilots avoid weather, too. The problem is that many times the weather that you are seeing on the weather system, as well as what the ARTCC is seeing, can be 5-6 minutes old. Since this week is Severe Weather Awareness Week here in Kansas, and with most of the country entering into severe weather season, remember that your NEXRAD weather is not real time information. Use the weather information in your cockpit for strategic planning and not tactical planning, and let's see if we can get weather related accidents off of the Top 5 list. 

Roger's Runway: Overseas flights

Since our aviation units can work anywhere in the world, people are always asking how they can make their unit work outside of the United States. For folks going across the pond (better known as the Atlantic Ocean) having the correct database on the unit is important, as your options are limited. If you are planning an outback adventure in Australia, you too, can load a foreign database on your portable unit. Keep in mind however, that the handheld units can only hold one aviation database at a time. You can replace that database with another database but you will need a computer to do that with. Currently, if you are planning on flying to Europe in your plane, and the Americas database is loaded, the Atlantic can be installed when you hook the GPS up to a laptop and install that database. I would recommend however, that you have the Atlantic database purchased before you leave your home since an Internet connection may be hard to get.  As for the panel mounted units, you just need to get a Navdata card from Jeppesen that has the area that you need for you overseas excursion. Enjoy the flight!   

Roger's Runway: Garmin outfits MD Helicopters

If you enjoy helicopters, then earlier this week you needed to be in Houston, TX for the Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo 2008. This everything-related-to-helicopters show is the premier event for the helicopter industry. Along with 522 exhibitors, Garmin was of course there displaying our entire line of aviation products. The big announcement from the show was MD Helicopters choosing Garmin as their exclusive avionics provider on MD’s single engine line. When you purchase your 2008 model helicopter, you will be guided by a GNS 430W, listening to a GMA 347, talking on a SL40, and be followed by a GTX 328. Garmin is excited to provide these helicopters pilots with the latest in avionics.

Roger's Runway: Mark your calendars

The New Year started almost two months ago, but tonight starts the New Year for Garmin avionics seminars. Every year Garmin host sales seminars across North America at local avionics shops, special events, or trade shows for our entire line of Garmin avionics. These seminars are open to the public and can be attended by anyone who is interested in learning about Garmin units and wants to see the horizon. To keep you in the loop, Garmin provides a list of all the seminars that are currently scheduled. Make sure you check the Garmin website from time to time too, as we add seminars throughout the year. So if you going to be in or live near La Verne, CA, tonight is the night to check out a Garmin seminar.

Roger's Runway: Lift off

If you are an aviation fanatic as much as I am, then you always get excited when the Space Shuttle takes flight. Well last Thursday we got a first Space Shuttle fix for the New Year, and the shuttle Atlantis is well on its way to making the International Space Station a roomier place to live with the addition of the Columbus module. With launch of the shuttle I noticed the TFR above the Kennedy Space Center was a little odd. The airspace limits for a TFR usually vary between the surface to 3-5,000 feet. However, the altitude limits on the shuttle launch TFR (surface-10,000,000 feet) were to the extreme, keeping even a high flying SR-71 BlackBird or space exploring Star Ship Enterprise from flying over the shuttle launch. The 10-million-foot limit on the TFR is how an unlimited altitude TFR will be displayed on your Garmin portable units. So the next time you see a TFR that has a 10,000,000 foot limit, just remember that you are not going to fly over it any time soon.

Roger's Runway: SD card inquiries

A lot of G1000 pilots have asked about the Secure Digital (SD) cards that are with the G1000 and how to update them.  There are several cards that are used to keep the G1000 current and useful.  First the Jeppesen aviation database is loaded on to the SD card and inserted into the top slots of the PFD and MFD and can be updated through Jeppesen’s website.  To handle the Jeppesen updates we recommend using a SanDisk card no larger than 1GB but you will only need about 32MB.  For the SD cards that are located in the bottom slots of the PFD and MFD these cards need to remain in the airplane.  These two cards handle the Obstacle, Terrain, SafeTaxi, FliteCharts, and ChartView databases.  The updates for these lower cards are handled through the Garmin website with the exception of ChartView which is done through Jeppesen.  The data on these cards cannot be copied to a blank card so you cannot create your own back up, but you can order a second set of cards from the manufacturer.

Roger's Runway: The big game in the sky

Once again it’s that time of year where somewhere in the United States a massive TFR gets placed over some unsuspecting airspace causing mass confusion for pilots and air traffic controls alike. This year’s lucky winner is the Phoenix Class B.  Since everyone here on the Garmin Blog is in a Super Bowl mood I figured this would be a good time to rehash how TFR’s are displayed on all the Garmin systems.  On the G1000 temporary flight restrictions are shown with a yellow circle on the MFD and on the inset on the PFD.  For the GMX 200 a TFR is represented by a yellow ring when active.  For the portable units that display TFR information the TFR will show up in red.  If the TFR is not a pop-up TFR and planned ahead of time like the Super Bowl then the TFR will show up starting off in yellow. Once the scheduled time for the TFR to become active arrives then the TFR on the display will turn red.  The Garmin systems will not show all TFR’s that are active so make sure you do a final check with flight service to get the latest NOTAMS.

More scenes from the shoot

And, what would another teaser clip be without some more behind the scenes footage? Here's a few more pictures to tantalize your senses as the big game quickly approaches. Have a look and keep checking back for even more clips and tips!   

The making of....

In addition to the minisite's teaser clips, here are some behind-the-scenes takes from the making of Garmin's Super Bowl commercial. We'll keep 'em coming as the days pass, but in the meantime, stay tuned to the blog for your next sneak peek at what's to come during the big game!

Roger's Runway: Don't forget your rebate!

As a friendly reminder, if you purchased a GMX 200 and GWX 68 radar between May 1 and December 31, 2007, then you only have days left to get a $2000 rebate.  The GMX 200 and the GWX 68 that you purchased entitles you to a $2000 rebate from Garmin, but the rebate needs to be postmarked no later than January 31, 2008 (which is next Thursday).  You can download the rebate form from the Garmin website.  I can bet that $2000 would go a long way to pay for some gas or the next annual.

Roger's Runway: Special Delivery!

How do you get 30 air conditioning units, which weigh on average 700 pounds a piece, onto a building in 1 hour and 20 minutes?  Easy, you call in a helicopter! This past Saturday, St. Louis Helicopters brought their Eurocopter AStar to Garmin to help place new air conditioning units onto the warehouse expansion that is currently under way at our corporate headquarters. Since the roof is so large, a normal crane was just not going to reach into the middle of the warehouse. The pilot of course, did not have any problem finding Garmin because the helicopter was fully equipped with Garmin avionics including a GNS 430, GTX 330, and a GMA 340. You can say that it was a homecoming of sort for the avionics.

We're #1!

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!

Roger's Runway: Interactive GPS programs

If you are a member of Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association (AOPA) then it is a good possibility that you received an e-mail in the last week from the Air Safety Foundation (ASF).  The ASF has excellent online interactive programs that they offer to make you a better pilot.  On the ASF website they have two interactive GPS programs - one for VFR operations and the other for IFR operations, which helps you answer some of those GPS questions that you have wanted to ask. 

After completion of the course, you can take quiz to test the knowledge that you just obtained to get a nice certificate. And the best part is that you can use this as part of the FAA Safety Team’s Wings program.  Having taken both of the tests, even I was still able to learn something, so I know you will be able to as well. 

Roger's Runway: Brrr! Avoiding the Ice

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. 

GPSMAP 496: Saving Lives

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.

Roger's Runway: Your GPS signal just got stronger

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.

Roger's Runway: Answering WAAS Questions

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. 

Roger's Runway: Know Your NEXRAD

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.

Roger's Runway: Flying with an eTrex

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. 

Roger's Runway: G1000's First Retrofit STC

With the holidays last week, I almost forgot to tell you that Garmin was recently awarded our first retrofit Supplement Type Certificate (STC) for the King Air C90A/GT.  The G1000 equipped C90 will help reduce pilot work load and increase safety of flight while providing continuous weather information.  With the three axis digital GFC 700 autopilot those WAAS approaches will be easier than ever.  The King Air C90A/GT is the first of the retrofit programs that Garmin is offering.  The King Air 200 is the next on the hit list to receive this upgrade. To see if your King Air C90 qualifies for the G1000 upgrade check out the King Air mini site or contact your closest