Garmin International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd.
(NASDAQ: GRMN), today announced it has received European
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval of the retrofit GFC™ 500
autopilot for fixed-wing general aviation aircraft in Europe.
Delivering superior performance and in-flight precision, as well as
self-monitoring capabilities, the GFC 500 incorporates a
number of safety-enhancing technologies, including Electronic
Stability and Protection (ESP™), underspeed protection, overspeed
protection, Level Mode, Flight Director (FD) and more. The GFC 500
also offers aircraft owners with a simple, light-weight and
cost-effective autopilot upgrade path and a lower cost of long-term
ownership. Intended for less complex piston single-engine aircraft,
the GFC 500 is available immediately and approved for
installation in hundreds of aircraft throughout Europe.
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GFC 500 autopilot in a Cessna 172 (Photo:
Business Wire)
“As we work alongside EASA, we are excited to bring this
popular, game-changing autopilot to thousands of aircraft in
Europe,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin vice president of aviation sales
and marketing. “This STC is representative of EASA’s commitment to
improving overall safety in general aviation, which permits modern
avionics and autopilot upgrades that boast superior features and
capabilities compared to older generation equipment in aircraft
today.”
Designed to be paired with the popular G5 electronic flight
instrument, the GFC 500 autopilot uniquely integrates with the G5
to provide pilots with an economical autopilot and modern flight
instrument. The autopilot mode controller contains large dedicated
keys and knobs, a control wheel that allows for easy adjustments to
aircraft pitch, airspeed and vertical speed and a level button that
returns the aircraft to straight-and-level flight. G5 also provides
the display and input of altitude preselect, heading, vertical
speed target, airspeed target and Flight Director (FD) command
bars.
“Through a well-established relationship and a combined
pioneering vision, we are grateful for EASA’s commitment to
improving safety in general aviation through a progressive approach
to implement simpler, scalable regulations that allow aircraft
owners to more easily install modern avionics in their aircraft,”
said Robert Murray, Garmin director of aircraft certification.
“Without the willingness of EASA to accept alternate means of
compliance for fielded single-engine piston aircraft, safety
enhancing technology like the GFC 500 autopilot would not be
possible at a cost-effective price.”
When the GFC 500 is paired with a compatible navigator, pilots
receive the capability to fly fully coupled instrument approach
procedures, including Localizer Performance with Vertical (LPV)
approaches. Vertical navigation (VNAV) also allows pilots to
generate vertical descent profiles by setting altitude constraints
in a flight plan. An optional adapter allows the GFC 500 and G5 to
interface with select Garmin GPS or VHF navigators. The GFC 500 is
also compatible with the G500 TXi and G500 flight displays.
The GFC 500 incorporates solid state attitude and robust
self-monitoring capabilities, providing superior autopilot
performance, greater reliability and safety tools that are similar
to the popular GFC 700 autopilot. A brushless DC motor and a gear
train also eliminates the need for a mechanical slip clutch,
further reducing maintenance requirements when compared to
decades-old servo designs on the market today. Minimal maintenance
needs, particularly compared to older generation autopilot systems,
also lowers the overall cost of ownership of the GFC 500
autopilot.
As standard, the GFC 500 comes with Garmin ESP, which functions
independently of the autopilot and works in the background to help
pilots avoid inadvertent flight attitudes or bank angles and
provides airspeed protection1 while the pilot is hand-flying the
aircraft. Should the pilot become inattentive and exceed
pre-determined pitch, roll or airspeed limitations, ESP provides
gentle nudges on the flight controls to lessen the aircraft’s pitch
attitude or bank angle. The correcting force becomes stronger if
the aircraft pitch, bank or airspeed exceedance grows further away
from the preset limits. In the event the pilot becomes
incapacitated and the system detects ESP has been activated for an
extended period of time, the autopilot engages with the Flight
Director in Level Mode, bringing the aircraft to level flight until
the pilot commands otherwise. For maneuvering flight, ESP can be
disabled manually.
In addition to traditional autopilot capabilities such as
altitude hold, vertical speed and heading modes, the GFC 500 also
includes:
- Premium functions and advanced
capabilities such as altitude pre-select, indicated airspeed hold
mode and VNAV when appropriately equipped.
- Pilots can select, couple and fly
various instrument approaches, including GPS, ILS, VOR, LOC and
back course approaches2.
- Built-in GPS roll steering capability
eliminates the need for external roll steering converters, allowing
for smoother navigation tracking when installed with a compatible
navigator.
- Level Mode button, which automatically
engages the autopilot to restore the aircraft to straight and level
flight.
- Underspeed protection helps prevent the
pilot from stalling the aircraft.
- Overspeed protection helps prevent the
pilot from exceeding aircraft maximum speed (VNE).
- With the addition of an optional yaw
servo, Yaw Damping (YD) mode minimizes yawing oscillations while
also helping to maintain coordinated flight by keeping the
slip/skid indicator centered.
- Flight Director command bars can be
displayed on the G5
- Pilots can fly coupled ‘go-arounds’
during missed approach sequencing. A remotely-installed go-around
button commands the Flight Director to display the appropriate
pitch attitude required for the missed approach procedure and
activates a loaded missed approach when paired with a GTN™ 650/750
or the new GPS 175/GNX 375 navigators.
- An optional pitch-trim servo adds
automatic trim and manual electric trim.
For customers who already have a G5 electronic flight
instrument, the GFC 500 starts at a suggested price of $6,995 USD
for a 2-axis autopilot for the Cessna 172 (installation extra;
pricing for other aircraft models may vary). The GFC 500 can
be purchased with the G5 electronic flight instrument for a
suggested price of less than $10,000 USD. Aircraft approved today
include select models of the Beechcraft Bonanza, Cessna
172/182/210, Grumman AA-5, Mooney M20 and the PA 28. To view the
most up-to-date aircraft STC list, to view certifications that are
expected to begin in the next 12-months, or to express interest in
a specific aircraft make/model, please visit:
www.garmin.com/GFC500.
Garmin’s aviation business segment is a leading provider of
solutions to OEM, aftermarket, military and government customers.
Garmin’s portfolio includes navigation, communication, flight
control, hazard avoidance, an expansive suite of ADS-B solutions
and other products and services that are known for innovation,
reliability, and value. For more information about Garmin’s full
line of avionics, go to www.garmin.com/aviation.
For decades, Garmin has pioneered new GPS navigation and
wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who
live an active lifestyle. Garmin serves five primary markets,
including automotive, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor
recreation. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom
at garmin.com/newsroom, contact the Media Relations department at
913-397-8200, or follow us at facebook.com/garmin,
twitter.com/garmin, instagram.com/garmin, or
youtube.com/garmin.
1. Low speed ESP requires a compatible Garmin GPS navigator.
2. GFC 500 requires a GTN/GNS navigator or GNC 255/SL 30 for
navigation and approach functions.
About Garmin
Garmin International Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd.
(Nasdaq: GRMN). Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its
principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and
the United Kingdom. Garmin is a registered trademark and GTN, GFC
and ESP are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.
All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and
service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All
rights reserved.
Notice on Forward-Looking Statements
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding
Garmin Ltd. and its business. Such statements are based on
management’s current expectations. The forward-looking events and
circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual
results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown
risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not
limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2018, filed by Garmin
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number
0-31983). A copy of such Form 10-K is available at
www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No
forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and
Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events, or otherwise.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190411005096/en/
Jessica KossGarmin International Inc.Phone | 913/397-8200E-Mail
| media.relations@garmin.com
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