eMagility » Victor’s Vectors

Victor’s Vectors: GTN 635, 625 and 725 now available!

Garmin — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:37:41 +0000

The GTN 750 and GTN 650 were announced and available for shipping March 23 when Garmin unveiled them at the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) Convention. Also announced at that time were the GTN 635, GTN 625, and GTN 725. As of July 1st these GTN models are now available for purchase and shipping. So what is the difference between the different GTN models? Basically, the GTN 625 and GTN 725 are GPS only, while the GTN 635 is a GPS/COM. The GTN 650 and GTN 750 are GPS/NAV/COM. For a more detailed list of the differences I’ve included a comparison chart from the GTN mini-site. The GTN 625 is priced at $9,595, the GTN 635 at $10,495, and the GTN 725 at $15,000. Now the full line of GTN models are available in a price range for your budget, so to start your panel upgrade visit a Garmin Aviation Dealer near you.

Victor’s Vectors: GTN 635, 625 and 725 now available!

Garmin — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:37:41 +0000

Victor’s Vectors: Find features, how-to videos and more at the GTN minisite

Garmin — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:12:48 +0000

The GTN 650/750 series of touchscreen avionics that were announced just before Sun ‘n Fun are now accumulating untold numbers of hours in the air. With all of those systems in the field getting some face time Garmin is starting to get a lot more questions from potential customers about the unit features and operation. Garmin support is always willing and available to answer those questions; however, I thought I would pass on a resource with a ton of useful information. That resource is Garmin’s GTN mini-site. The site gives good information about features, the product lineup, comparison tables, and how–to videos. The how–to videos do a great job of walking through the basic operation of the GTN and will save you some flight time getting used to the system. Check out the mini-site, and remember, if you want to get a little face time with a GTN, Oshkosh is right around the corner. You can visit our booth at Hangar D for a hands-on demo and regularly scheduled GTN seminars.

PilotPak: Databases for the entire aircraft, for a single annual price

Garmin — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:34:19 +0000

Aviation databases in the cockpit just became more affordable! PilotPak is our newest offering that allows our customers to buy a bundle of databases for select Garmin panel mount avionics, all at once and for a single annual price. Not only that, the purchase of a PilotPak will provide databases for all of your Garmin equipment in the cockpit. The databases within the selected package can be used with any combination of GTN™, G600, G500, G500H and G3X installed in one aircraft. Each bundle option includes Garmin’s popular SafeTaxi®, Obstacle, Terrain and Airport Directory, and customers are able to choose between bundle options that include Jeppesen NavData, Jeppesen JeppView and/or Garmin FliteCharts®.

The more Garmin avionics you have, the more you save! For example, with a PilotPak Standard Americas subscription, you can enjoy 20 percent savings on databases for a single GTN or 60 percent savings with the inclusion of a G500 when compared to purchasing annual subscriptions to each database individually. When Garmin’s FliteCharts are included, the savings on databases for a single GTN 750 amount to over 30 percent and when combined with a G500, you save over 70 percent.

Visit FlyGarmin or www.jeppesen.com/gtn to learn more and to purchase your PilotPak.

Victor’s Vectors: Aviation Summer Savings

Garmin — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:06:30 +0000

The summer flying season has started, and when you sat in your cockpit the dust from the winter months made those older avionics look like they belong in a museum. You’ve thought about upgrading that panel before, but you’ve been holding out just for the right time and the right offer. Well, Garmin understands that feeling and is kicking off the summer with a few new rebate offers to help you climb off the fence and bring a smile to your face when you flip the avionics master switch. The first is the Garmin Glass Makeover Rebate. This rebate is a $1,000 mail-in rebate for qualifying G500 or G600 installations when you purchase a new GTN touchscreen. The G500 and G600 replace your everyday six pack instruments with a primary flight display and multifunction display. If you haven’t already, visit the G600 mini-site for loads of information. The second rebate is the GTS Traffic Rebate. This rebate is a $3,250 mail-in rebate for qualifying purchases of a GTN touchscreen and a Garmin GTS traffic system. The GTS traffic systems feature Garmin’s patented CLEAR CAS technology which provides dynamic traffic surveillance with both active and passive technology. With this technology, aircraft are able to automatically report and receive more stable, and more detailed, traffic data. So dust off those older avionics and navigate to a Garmin aviation dealer near you.

Victor’s Vectors: 3-D audio with the GMA 350

Garmin — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 21:33:40 +0000

Sometimes it seems to me that terms for new features get thrown around by manufactures like they mean something to the everyday person or pilot. I felt a little like that when Garmin announced 3-D audio with the new GMA 350 audio panel. The GMA 350 is the first truly all-digital audio panel, and introduced a number of new technologies to the cockpit, including voice recognition, 3-D audio processing, advanced squelch and more. When I heard that, I thought, “What’s 3-D audio suppose to mean?” Well recently Garmin added some audio samples to the website and I got my answer. Trust me, hearing it was believing it. If you are wondering the same question I was, then check out the audio samples on Garmin’s website and hear the difference 3-D audio makes.

Victor’s Vectors: Garmin GFC 700 Autopilot Training Video

Garmin — Wed, 25 May 2011 14:41:33 +0000

Garmin is making a commitment to training for the aviation market, and another product of that commitment is the new GFC 700 training video. If you have a G1000 with the GFC 700 autopilot I highly recommend taking a few minutes to watch this thorough video of its operation. I learned a few new things and I’m sure you will too.

Victor’s Vectors: LNAV+V Annunciations on your Garmin Navigator

Garmin — Wed, 18 May 2011 21:08:51 +0000

I recently received some questions about the LNAV+V annunciation on the 530W. I thought I would post a little of my response for others who might have the same questions.

For RNAV approaches there are a few approach minimums possible (applicable for WAAS systems only). These minimums will be in the minimums section towards the lower part of the approach chart. LPV, or Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance, has the lowest minimums which are normally around 200 to 250 ft. The next higher minimum is LNAV/VNAV which is Lateral Navigation and Vertical Navigation. Then there is the non-precision LNAV minimum which is just Lateral Navigation and has a Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) with no vertical guidance. However, Garmin WAAS systems will annunciate a LNAV+V for most LNAV approaches.

So what is LNAV+V and how do you know if an approach will have it? Garmin defines LNAV+V as Lateral Navigation with Advisory Vertical Guidance. This is an LNAV approach with an advisory vertical guidance, which is usually in the 3 degree range and is provided to assist the pilot in maintaining a constant vertical glidepath. Because it is advisory in nature and not an approach minimum the pilot is responsible for maintaining approach step down altitudes and obstacle clearance. Even considering this, it is a very handy feature that makes even a novice IFR pilot look like a pro.

And how can we tell if an LNAV approach will have the +V? First of all, if an approach has the LPV or LNAV/VNAV minimum the system will prefer these types as they will get you lower on the approach so LNAV+V will not be available. For straight LNAV approaches you can tell whether you will receive the +V when you load or activate the approach. In the GNS 430W/530W series units the LNAV+V will be in the procedures pages at the bottom when loading or activating the approach. In the GTN 750/650 series units the label of +V will not appear until the approach is loaded into the flight plan and then it will show in the title of the approach. G1000 systems will also display the +V in the title of the approach on the flight plan.

I hope this information has helped answer your questions on the LNAV+V and provided some guidance on how to find out in advance if the approach will have the +V available.

Victor’s Vectors: Special G1000 EBACE Offer for King Air 200/B200

Garmin — Wed, 11 May 2011 17:25:53 +0000

Spring has sprung. The warmer weather is here and the flying season has begun. As we gear up for the European Business Aviation Convention & Exposition (EBACE) next week, we announced a special offer for Platinum G1000 retrofit packages for EU-registered King Air 200 and B200 aircraft. King Air owners in Europe who purchase a G1000 prior to June 30, 2011 will receive a $15,000 discount on the Platinum package, an upgrade that includes Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) and Garmin ChartView powered by Jeppesen. The G1000 avionics suite breathes new life into older King Airs, dramatically modernizing the panel. This state of the art technology offers a sophisticated autopilot, enhanced situational awareness features, advanced navigation and much more. But don’t take my word for it. Watch this video of owners and operators who have already experienced what the G1000 can do.

Victor’s Vectors: First ever aviation symposium hosted at Garmin HQ

Garmin — Thu, 05 May 2011 13:15:47 +0000

Last week, we hosted our first ever aviation symposium. Nearly 100 pilots from all over the country came to Garmin Headquarters in Olathe, KS for the inaugural event. Customers that visited got to take a tour and see some of the inner workings here at Garmin including manufacturing, engineering and industrial design. The tour was followed by a symposium that covered topics like the new GTN series, G600 and G500, aviation portables and more.

In the coming months, we’ll be taking the symposium on tour. On May 25, we’ll be at Panorama Flight Service in White Plains, NY. And we’ll have three more events in August in California, Oregon and Illinois. Visit our RSVP page for details and to sign up to attend, or check out our schedule of upcoming seminars to find one near you!