Category Archives for Garmin
Kansas City Group Educating Next Generation Aviators, Technicians
Believe it or not, the future of aviation is in America’s heartland — Ottawa, Kansas, to be exact. Ottawa is located on the outskirts of Kansas City, on the Kansas side of the border, some 30 miles southwest of the Garmin International headquarters. There a determined group of students are on a mission to give an aviation icon a 21st century makeover. The icon: a 1967 Piper Cherokee. The students — not yet enrolled in an aeronautical university — but rather a collection of ambitious middle school and high school students under the guidance of aviation industry professionals and mentors. The goal is not just to return the airplane to the sky but also to gain valuable aviation knowledge and technical skills.
The Aviation Explorers, the industry’s next generation
Founded in 2015, the Aviation Explorers Post 8000 was established as a nonprofit organization within the Boy Scouts of America. Its mission is to provide aviation learning and career-exploring opportunities for middle and high school students, as well as leadership and hands-on experiences that could translate to real-world career opportunities. Learning how to fly was a pillar for the group, and they were determined to find a way to reduce barriers and create more opportunities for aspiring young students to achieve this goal.
Vintage airplane, new avionics
Milton Scott — a lead aircraft maintenance technician in Garmin’s flight operations department — has been instrumental in helping establish the organization along with teaching and mentoring the students on the technical aspects of aviation. After helping to get the organization get off the ground, the Aviation Explorers received the generous donation of a 1967 Piper Cherokee. The goal was simple: return the aging airplane to airworthy status and learn about aircraft maintenance along the way. Having a flyable airplane in the organization would create a number of new opportunities, especially for those interested in learning to fly.
The original equipment in a ’60s-era airplane can leave a lot to be desired. So Garmin’s aviation team decided to help. They supplied a number of new cost-effective solutions tailored for training aircraft like Piper Cherokees, including a GNX
375 GPS navigator and ADS-B transponder, two GNC® 255 Nav/Comm radios and a GMA 345 audio panel with BLUETOOTH® connectivity.
“The students worked on everything,” said Scott. “From setting up the radio racks, making the wiring harnesses, tying the wire harnesses, and installing the circuit breakers and headset/microphone sockets. They even tested all the wiring before applying power.”
After updating the avionics, the students helped complete the remaining maintenance tasks required to return the aircraft to service.
“Right now, the airplane is available for any of our students to use for flight lessons,” Scott added. “They just have to pay for gas.”
That was their idea from the beginning. And they have succeeded — several students have earned or are close to earning their pilot’s license in the organization’s Piper Cherokee.
What’s next?
Although the airplane returned to flight and its mission of teaching student pilots, there is always room for improvement.
“We’re already planning to install two Garmin G5 electronic flight instruments, a GAD 29 (compact GPS/navigation data interface adapter) and GMU 11 (magnetometer) later this year,” Scott said.
For more information about our latest cost-effective avionics solutions, visit Garmin.com/aviation.
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Garmin Pilot Adds Configurable Document Viewer, Night Mode and More
Garmin Pilot version 10.1 — now available on Apple mobile devices — brings enhanced capabilities, greater awareness and added convenience into the cockpit. New enhancements to the document viewer now allow customers to configure folders so they can more easily organize documents such as pilot’s guides, cockpit reference guides and more, within the app. Additional features include the display of elevation information in the radial menu, night mode on approach charts, the option to print the navigation log and more.
Document viewer enhancements
Documents stored within the document viewer in Garmin Pilot are now synced across all Apple mobile devices running Garmin Pilot. These folders are also customizable by color and can be reordered for improved organization of documents such as pilot’s guides, cockpit reference guides, checklists and more.
Night mode on instrument approach charts
While flying at night, pilots can now invert the colors on terminal charts, including Garmin FliteCharts or Jeppesen Terminal Approach procedures, for enhanced readability during night flights. When viewing a chart on the map page, within the charts binder, in split-screen view on the synthetic page or while viewing the airport page, pilots have the option to select night mode from the menu in the top right corner within Garmin Pilot. Once selected, night mode is consistently displayed throughout the app.
Navigation log and weight & balance print option
Garmin Pilot uses Apple’s wireless printing technology, AirPrintÒ, to print airport diagrams, FliteCharts, Jeppesen charts, weight & balance load sheets, navlogs, as well as European IFR autorouting briefing packs.
Additional features:
- When the terrain database is downloaded, elevation information can be viewed within the inner circle of the radial menu on the map for pre-flight planning.
- Pilots can easily view a new logbook report that details the airports they have visited. Each logbook period displays a map with pins to reflect the destination airport, as well as the date, flight time logged and more.
- The display and animation of lightning has been enhanced on the moving map.
- Garmin Pilot also supports the Apple Pencil 2 and a variety gestures.
- New fields have been added to the logbook entry that allow pilots to record the current oil level, oil added, as well as document squawks experienced with the aircraft during the flight.
The newest release of Garmin Pilot on Apple mobile devices is available immediately. For new customers, Garmin Pilot is available in the Apple App Store as a free download for the first 30 days. After the 30-day trial period, customers may purchase an annual subscription of Garmin Pilot starting at $79.99. Garmin Pilot is supported by our award-winning aviation support team, which provides 24/7 worldwide technical and warranty support. Visit www.garmin.com/aviation for additional information.
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New Aircraft Models Approved for GFC 500 and GFC 600 Autopilots
Our GFC 500 and GFC 600 digital autopilots have received FAA Supplemental Type Certification in several aircraft models. The GFC 500 and GFC 600 deliver superior in-flight characteristics, self-monitoring capabilities and minimal maintenance needs when compared to older generation autopilot systems. The GFC 500 is intended for piston aircraft, while the GFC 600 is intended for high performance piston and turbine aircraft that have a wide range of speed and performance characteristics.
New aircraft models approved for the GFC 500 autopilot include:
- Aviat Husky
- Models: A-1, A-1A, A-1B, A-1C-180, A-1C-200
- Cessna 206
- Models: U206F (s/n U20602200 and later), TU206F (s/n U20602200 and later), U206G, TU206G, 206H, T206H
New aircraft models approved for the GFC 600 autopilot include:
- Cessna 425
- Models: 425
The GFC 500 autopilot uniquely integrates with the G5 electronic flight instrument or a combination of both the G5 electronic flight instrument and G3X Touch, G500 TXi or G500 flight displays to provide pilots with an economical and modern autopilot solution. The GFC 600 is designed as a standalone autopilot and also boasts superior integration potential when paired with the G500 TXi/G600 TXi or G500/G600 glass flight displays, Garmin navigators, as well as a variety of third-party flight displays, instruments and navigation sources.
The full-featured GFC 600 and GFC 500 autopilots provide thousands of existing general aviation aircraft with a simple, light-weight, cost-effective autopilot upgrade path. The GFC 600 and GFC 500 incorporate solid state attitude with robust self-monitoring capabilities to provide superior autopilot performance, greater reliability and safety benefits that are similar to the popular GFC 700 autopilot. In addition to traditional autopilot capabilities such as altitude hold, vertical speed and heading modes, the GFC 600 and GFC 500 also include altitude preselect, VNAV1, Level Mode, underspeed and overspeed protection and more. Pilots can also select, couple and fly various instrument approaches, including GPS, ILS, VOR, LOC and back course approaches when paired with a compatible GPS navigator.
As a standard feature on both the GFC 500 and GFC 600 autopilots, pilots receive Garmin Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP), which works to assist the pilot in maintaining the aircraft in a stable flight condition. ESP functions independently of the autopilot and works in the background to help pilots avoid inadvertent flight attitudes or bank angles and provides airspeed protection while the pilot is hand-flying the aircraft.
For customers who already have a G5 electronic flight instrument, the GFC 500 starts at a suggested retail price of $6,9952 for a 2-axis autopilot. The GFC 600 autopilot starts at a suggested retail price of $19,9952 for a 2-axis autopilot with electric pitch trim. Pricing is for retrofit installations only. The GFC 500 autopilot will also be available as an option on new Aviat Husky aircraft.
Garmin continues to add additional aircraft models to the growing STC list for the GFC 500 and GFC 600 autopilots. To view the most up-to-date aircraft STC list, to view certification programs that are expected to begin in the next 12-months, or to express interest in a specific aircraft make/model, visit: www.garmin.com/GFC500 or www.garmin.com/GFC600.
1. GTN navigator required
2. Installation not included
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Garmin Autoland Achieves FAA Certification for General Aviation Aircraft
Garmin Autoland is now FAA certified and available on the G3000 integrated flight deck in the Piper M600. In the event of an emergency, Autoland will control and land the aircraft without human intervention. The award-winning system is also featured on the Cirrus Vision Jet and Daher TBM 940 and will soon be available on these aircraft, with additional aircraft approvals to follow.
“What started as a vision to develop the world’s first Autoland system for general aviation, became a reality today as we deliver one of the industry’s most significant innovations,” said Phil Straub, Garmin executive vice president and managing director of aviation. “Congratulations to the entire Garmin team who contributed to the development and certification of Autoland – one of the industry’s most forward- thinking technologies that will forever enhance aviation safety and save lives.”
In the event of an emergency, the pilot or passengers on board the aircraft can activate Autoland to land the aircraft with a simple press of a dedicated button. Autoland can also activate automatically if the system determines it’s necessary. Once activated, the system calculates a flight plan to the most suitable airport, while avoiding terrain and adverse weather, initiates an approach to the runway and automatically lands the aircraft – without pilot or passenger intervention.
Autoland takes into account a breadth of information and criteria during an activation, including a wide range of performance, operational and environmental factors. The availability of a GPS approach with lateral and vertical guidance to the runway is also required when the system is considering various airports and runways. Even further, the system will automatically communicate with air traffic control, advising controllers and pilots operating near the aircraft of its location and its intentions.
Throughout an Autoland activation, the G3000 integrated flight deck provides passenger-centric visual and verbal communications in plain-language so passengers in the aircraft know what to expect. The flight displays show the aircraft’s location on a map alongside information such as the destination airport, estimated time of arrival, distance to the destination airport and fuel remaining. Airspeed, altitude and aircraft heading are also labeled in an easy-to-understand format. Passengers also have the option to communicate with air traffic control by following simple instructions on the display using the touchscreen interface on the flight deck.
The Garmin Autothrottle system is used to automatically manage aircraft speed, engine performance and engine power so the aircraft can climb, descend or maintain altitude as needed during an Autoland activation. On approach to land, the system initiates a controlled descent to the airport. If the aircraft needs additional time to descend or slow down during the approach, the Autoland system initiates a standard holding procedure. When aligned with the runway, the landing gear and flaps are automatically extended and the aircraft continues its descent. On the runway, automatic braking is applied while tracking the runway centerline to bring the aircraft to a full stop. Engine shutdown is also automated so occupants can safely exit the aircraft.
At any time, a pilot can easily deactivate an Autoland activation. With a single press of the “AP” autopilot key on the autopilot controller or the autopilot disconnect button on the controls, an Autoland activation can be canceled. The flight display shows a message that confirms Autoland has been deactivated and in the event of an accidental deactivation, the system shows passengers how to reactivate Autoland if needed.
Garmin Autonomí, a family of autonomous safety solutions, encompasses Autoland, Emergency Descent Mode (EDM) and Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP). These technologies add to the safety enhancing tools and capabilities of a Garmin-equipped flight deck. For example, in the event an aircraft loses pressurization, EDM is capable of automatically descending the aircraft to a preset altitude without pilot intervention to help avert hypoxic situations.
ESP further enhances the Autonomí suite by working to assist the pilot in avoiding unintentional flight attitudes beyond that for normal flight. ESP works in the background while the pilot is hand flying the aircraft to help pilots avoid inadvertent flight attitudes or bank angles. Should the pilot become inattentive while hand flying the aircraft and exceed pre-determined pitch, roll or airspeed limitations, Garmin ESP activates and the pilot will feel pressure on the flight controls that guide him/her back to a recommended flight limit.
For additional information regarding the Garmin Autonomí family of autonomously activated flight technologies, visit www.garmin.com/Autonomi.
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12,000 Mile Journey: Wisconsin to Brazil and Back in a Homebuilt Aircraft
Guil Barros was browsing the Aeromart at AirVenture Oshkosh, an annual U.S. gathering of aviation enthusiasts, when he spotted an RV-9A tail and empennage kit in a caged off area. Three years and about 2,500 after-work and weekend hours later, he had himself a fully built aircraft.
Barros works in computer technology, and prior to building
his own aircraft, had logged about 40 flight hours a year as a hobby aviator in
his older 172. He didn’t necessarily consider himself a serious aviator, and
certainly not a plane builder.
But suddenly Barros was the owner of that RV-9A kit — and
filled with the determination to eventually fly it for real.
“It’s a huge project, right?” he said. “It seems
insurmountable. When you start, there’s about 15,000 rivets, which means you
have to drill out about 15,000 holes, you have to deburr about 15,000 holes,
you have to prime hundreds of parts, you have to deburr hundreds of parts.”
To maintain motivation, and maybe a little bit of sanity,
Barros just took it day-by-day, tackling small tasks each day.
“It’s just about managing a big project and managing your
expectations for what you’re going to get out of it every week,” he said.
Fortunately, Barros is a part of a large experimental aviation community. He had plenty of experts and fellow aircraft builders, including Garmin Team X, to lean on. And throughout the process, Barros had airplane mechanic friends come and look over the airplane.
“I wanted as many people as possible to look at the airplane
before I flew it,” he said. “I told them, ‘You’re not going to hurt my feelings
if you find a problem with it.’”
Once it was fully built, a Federal Aviation Administration
official inspected the aircraft, which was followed by a 40-hour flight test
period within a limited area. By the end of that test period, Barros was having
some serious fun in his new airplane. He spent the next 18 months flying it
wherever he could.
Eventually, Barros felt ready for a serious trip. While
Alaska was tempting, Barros spent the first 19 years of his life in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil. He felt strongly that a return to his homeland and family
would be the most meaningful trip he could take after all those years building an
aircraft that could take him there.
Planning the trip — including building a route and itinerary, planning out fuel stops, getting approvals, researching lodging options in the various countries, and packing and prepping equipment — overtook his after-work and weekend time that was once spent building his airplane.
2020 Takeoff
Finally, in early 2020, Barros and his wife took off from the
Madison, Wisconsin, airport. They flew south to Florida, headed east towards
The Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Antigua, and then south along
the French island chain of the Caribbean — touching down to fuel up and spend time exploring
each destination.
Finally, a little over a week in, they reached South
America.
The trip had been fairly straightforward through that point, but South America doesn’t have as much general aviation, so it took time to obtain approvals and airport and weather information. That’s where his inReach® satellite communicator came in handy.
“It was a lot of planning and a lot of keeping our eye on what the weather looked like,” Barros said. “I think that was where the inReach Mini really, really shined. I don’t think I would ever do a trip like this without being able to communicate with the ground.”
Throughout the flight, Barros used the inReach to
communicate via two-way text with airport officials and pilot friends on the
ground.
“We were getting messages on the inReach throughout the
flight about weather reporting and conditions,” he said. “Or they would tell us
‘Hey, the weather here is not great, why don’t you continue to this next
airport that’s only another hour away, and we’ve already called them to check
that there’s fuel there waiting for you.’ It made a stressful and detailed
planning situation significantly easier.”
They also had the inReach tracking their trip and sending track points to their live MapShare
page so friends, family members, fans and the media could follow along.
“We had a lot of people watching the trip,” he said.
Highlights from
12,000 Miles
It certainly was a trip of a lifetime for Barros and his
wife. They relished the new sights of his homeland from a bird’s-eye view, such
as flying over the Amazon River.
“That was absolutely gorgeous,” he said. “Green — so many different tones of
green. Seeing the hills and the rivers from above was just incredible.”
They also enjoyed their stops at some of the smaller, lesser-known
airports along the way, like the one that was within the Amazon rainforest.
“You’re suddenly in the rainforest, right?” he said. “It’s
like you’re in a movie. You’re in a gorgeous forest with these animals and
these birds that you only see on TV. It was incredible.”
Barros was charmed by the people he met along the way, too,
who offered space in hangars, places to stay the night and dinners at local
flying clubs.
One airport in Brazil had a more complicated runway than he was used to. It was a little shorter and tighter, with surrounding hills, and he felt apprehensive about flying in and out. But while touring the area, Barros got to chatting with a man who turned out to be a flight instructor.
“He said, ‘Let’s go – we’re going to get you comfortable,’”
Barros said. “So we hopped in an airplane and spent a couple of hours just
practicing getting familiar with that airport.”
And when he finally touched down in Rio, Barros was met with
a crowd of people and fanfare.
“The story that the news put out was about the wayward son
of Brazil coming back in his homebuilt aircraft,” Barros said, laughing. “They
were excited about it.”
On his way back, Barros opted to fly along the coast of
Brazil.
“That was just one beautiful flight after another following
the eastern shore of Brazil,” he said. “The views were just of beautiful ocean
and beaches. It was phenomenal.”
Once he got back to Wisconsin, the only thing Barros could think
of to have done differently was pretty simple.
“I just wish I had done it over six months instead of one month,” he said. “There was so much to see and so many people we wanted to spend time with that we met along the way.”
Trip Takeaways
While the trip was beautiful and filled with positive
experiences, it did take immense planning and logic, both beforehand and along
the way. His biggest piece of advice? Plan ahead.
“It’s important to keep an eye on where you’re going,”
Barros said. “What is the complexity of doing this? Do the places that you’re
going usually handle general aviation? Because if they don’t, it’s going to be
more complicated.”
He also recommends that pilots be aware of where they’re
going to be flying when packing survival gear. The most nerve-wracking portion
of the Wisconsin to Rio journey for Barros was the flight from Grenada to
Georgetown, which was the longest stretch over the ocean he encountered. He and
his wife wore life jackets for the entire flight.
But, in the end, after 600 gallons of fuel, 92 hours in the air and 12,000 miles flown in his homebuilt aircraft, Barros wants other aviators to know one thing:
“It’s not difficult,” he said. “This type of trip takes planning, but it’s not hard. And, ultimately, it’s such a cool experience. So just do it.”
Learn more about Barros’ journey to Brazil and back on his YouTube, Instagram and Facebook pages.
NOTICE: To access the Iridium satellite network for live tracking and messaging, including SOS capabilities, an active satellite subscription is required. Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit the use of satellite communications devices. It is the responsibility of the user to know and follow all applicable laws in the jurisdictions where the device is intended to be used.
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aera 760: 7-inch Format Portable Aviation GPS
Garmin TeamX unveiled the aera 760, a premium aviation portable that is purpose-built for the pilot and the cockpit. The aera 760 boasts a 7-inch bright, sunlight readable touchscreen display complete with comprehensive chart options in a compact and dedicated portable GPS. Additional features of the aera 760 include the option to load instrument approach procedures, arrivals and departures, approach chart overlay on the map, Garmin Connext wireless connectivity, as well as the option to integrate it with select Garmin avionics. The aera 760 is expected to be available in May for a list price of $1,599 USD.
“On behalf of our innovative and nimble TeamX gang of aviation enthusiasts, we’re excited to introduce the latest edition to the distinguished family of Garmin portable GPS products, the feature-packed aera 760,” said Carl Wolf, vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “For nearly three decades, Garmin has sold hundreds of thousands of portable GPS products for aircraft big and small. Building upon our acclaimed portable aviation GPS line-up, the aera 760 has the most robust aviation feature set to-date, that is designed exclusively by pilots – for pilots.”
Featuring a modern yet rugged design, the aera 760 is an all-in-one aviation portable complete with a built-in GPS/GLONASS receiver that is optimized for the cockpit. Its bright, 7-inch sunlight readable display can run on battery power for up to four hours on a single charge. Along the bezel, an industry-standard USB-C connection is used to charge and power the aera 760, while a microSD card slot allows pilots to load topography and street maps or use it to easily transfer user waypoints. The aera 760 features an intuitive user-interface resembling that of many other popular Garmin products such as the GTN Xi series, G3X Touch and Garmin Pilot allowing pilots to easily transition between multiple Garmin products in the cockpit. Capable of operating in harsh conditions, the aera 760 has also been tested and hardened to meet stringent temperature and vibration standards.
New to the aera 760, pilots can load departures, arrivals and instrument approach procedures (IAPs) within a flight plan, which can be wirelessly transferred to a navigator in the cockpit. Once a procedure is loaded within the aera 760, pilots have the option to view the chart or they can overlay it on the moving map. IFR enroute charts, VFR sectionals and Garmin FliteCharts are also geo-referenced, providing optimal situational awareness. Jeppesen electronic charts are compatible with the aera 760 and give customers worldwide access to instrument approach chart information. In addition to procedures, victor airways, user-defined holds and holds over an existing navigation fix can be entered into a flight plan.
Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth allow the aera 760 to take advantage of Garmin Connext wireless connectivity inside and outside of the cockpit. When connected to Wi-Fi, pilots can easily download aviation database and software updates without the need to physically connect it to a computer. Prior to departure, pilots can also view worldwide weather information on the aera 760 when it’s connected to Wi-Fi. In the cockpit, it is capable of wirelessly connecting to select products such as the GTX 345 or the GDL 52 to display the benefits of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) traffic, Flight Information Service-Broadcast (FIS-B) weather, SiriusXM aviation weather and more via Bluetooth. Exclusive features such as TerminalTraffic and TargetTrend can also be viewed on the moving map and dedicated traffic pages.
Pilots can hard-wire the aera 760’s power, audio and dual RS-232 connections to receive additional benefits. When connected to a navigator such as the GTN 650Xi/750Xi, GTN 650/750 or the GNS 430W/530W, the aera 760 can send and receive flight plan data that is entered into the navigator over a serial port so all products remain synchronized throughout the flight. It is also capable of wirelessly connecting to these navigators when paired with a Flight Stream 210/510. When connected to a NAV/COM such as the GTR 225, GNC 255 or GTR 200, frequencies and airport identifiers can also be transferred from the aera 760 to the corresponding NAV/COM. For aircraft flying in visual conditions, pilots can optionally connect the aera 760 to select autopilots to fly lateral GPS and single point vertical navigation (VNAV) guidance. For example, pilots flying in visual conditions can fly a VNAV profile from their current altitude to pattern altitude using the aera 760 fully coupled to the autopilot.
3D Vision technology displays a virtual 3D perspective view of surrounding terrain, obstacles and airports, as well as a horizontal situation indicator (HSI) that is capable of showing lateral and vertical deviation bars. When the aera 760 is panel mounted or paired with a compatible attitude source such as a GDL 52 or GTX 345, pilots can view synthetic vision (SVX), which adds the display of back-up attitude information on the portable.
The aera 760 also features fuel price information, an E6B flight computer and weight and balance calculators. The E6B can be used prior to a flight to aid in calculating fuel burn, estimated time of arrival (ETA) and more. While in-flight, the aera 760 utilizes ground speed information to recalculate fuel burn and ETA. Helicopter operators also have access to features tailored to their unique operations, such as WireAware wire-strike avoidance technology. WireAware overlays power line locations and relative altitude information on the moving map and provides both aural and visual alerting when operating near power lines. Pilots also have the option to enter street intersections or non-aviation waypoints. GPS altitude display is offered in both mean sea level (MSL) and above ground level (AGL), so they are easier to identify relative to the aircraft flight path.
The aera 760 is expected to be available in May for a list price of $1,599 USD and is compatible with the cost-effective Garmin Navigation Database that is available in the Americas with US coverage starting at $39.95 for a single update. A variety of annual bundles are also available on the flyGarmin website, such as the U.S bundle for $169.95, which includes the Garmin Navigation Database, FliteCharts, IFR/VFR Charts, terrain, obstacles, SafeTaxi, and the airport directory with fuel prices. Pilots can also add enhanced map information such as topography or street maps using a MicroSD card. The aera 760 is supported by our award-winning aviation support team, which provides 24/7 worldwide technical and warranty support. For additional information, visit www.garmin.com/aera760.
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Frostbitten Pilot Rescued After Burying Plane On -35° Night
Pilots often buy inReach® devices for the two-way satellite
communication or SOS functionality, sometimes with the thought of a worst-case
scenario — an in-flight
malfunction or a crash — in
mind. But in Alaska, anything can happen. And on a cold day in January, that
was the case for Chad Lewis.
No stranger to flying, Lewis got his pilot’s license before
he even had his driver’s license. His first job was at an airport. And he ultimately
moved from the East Coast to settle in Alaska because of his love for
flying.
“I’ve just always loved it,” Lewis said. “And of course that
romanticism of Alaska bush flying is what drew me here originally.”
Many years later, Lewis uses his Supercub for recreational
flying and to get to remote portions of Alaska.
In early January, however, Lewis found himself in a
precarious situation.
It was his last intended landing of the day, and Lewis found
a spot that looked good to stop. It was a bit of a swampy area, and he knew the
snow would be deep. He did several passes to check out the location and made
some tracks to pack the snow. But when he finally came to a stop, the tail and
one side of the plane sunk down into the snow — nearly down to the wing.
Lewis made several attempts to dig the plane out and get it
turned around, but his efforts were futile. And by that point, it was -20 degrees
Fahrenheit, the sun was setting, and Lewis knew he wouldn’t be able to pull out
of that location in the dark even if he could get the plane unstuck.
“As soon as the sun started to go down – within 15 minutes
to half an hour – it got down to -35 degrees,” Lewis said.
Lewis began preparing to spend an unplanned night in a snow
cave in a very remote area of Alaska. He had survival gear and a -20 degree
sleeping bag, but the air temperature and snowy, swampy landscape made it
almost impossible for Lewis to get a significant fire going. He had a stove, too,
but it was so cold he couldn’t get it to ignite. That meant he couldn’t make
food or boil water to drink.
“It was rough,” he said. “Maybe rougher than it should have
been based on how I was prepared.”
Tracking and Texting
Not every portion of Alaska has flight following or other
radar coverage, which is partly why Lewis had invested in an inReach satellite
communication device in the first place. He wanted his wife back at home to
be able to track his flight path via MapShare
.
“If I’m ever late, my wife can easily log in to the site and
see where I was last or what’s going on,” he said. “Then we can communicate
back and forth, and I can let her know why I’m late or what happened.”
The inReach device’s two-way text communication via the
global Iridium® satellite network was key to his initial investment in
the technology as well.
“I was looking for a way to actually be able to
communicate,” he said. “If you know where somebody is but you can’t communicate
so you don’t know what’s going on, that can heighten anxiety for the folks on
the other end.”
Lewis was particularly grateful he could communicate with
his wife on that early January night. He had the inReach device attached close
to his body to keep it warm, and so as soon as he realized he was stuck, he
texted his wife on the device to inform her of the situation.
SOS Situation
Still awake in the cold of that -35-degree night, Lewis
determined that his feet had been numb for about 10 hours and began to worry
about doing permanent damage to his extremities.
That worry finally prompted him to trigger an SOS and communicate
with staff at the GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center.
A search and rescue team via helicopter was dispatched to
Lewis.
“They found me immediately because they had my coordinates,”
he said. “The biggest challenge they had was finding a good place to land
because the snow was so deep.”
The helicopter sank all the way down to the frame, so they
opted to lower a rescuer down instead. Without snowshoes, the rescuer sank all
the way down to his chest. The depth of the snow was serious, but the rescue
team managed to get Lewis out and transport him to a local hospital.
Lewis had developed severe frostbite on his hands and feet.
His right thumb was black with third-degree frostbite and felt as though it were
burning.
“The rescue team actually told me that rather than suffering
as long as I had through the night, I should have just triggered the SOS
earlier and not risked potential harm,” he said.
Ultimately, though, Lewis recovered – and kept all of his
fingers and toes.
“But without the inReach I would have had to spend the night
until the morning and then continued trying to get unstuck,” he said. “Or I
could have potentially hit the plane’s ELT, but that doesn’t give your exact
location, and I don’t know if it would have been working in those
temperatures.”
Later, Lewis used the inReach coordinates to guide him back
to where his plane was located and retrieved the plane with a helicopter.
Be Calm, Be Prepared
In addition to having all the necessary survival gear to spend the night in negative temperatures, Lewis credits his ability to stay calm for his ultimately successful rescue.
“I was definitely prepared, but the biggest thing was just
being calm,” he said. “I was calm about the situation the whole time. Maybe
just a little frustrated I was stuck.”
Back at home, his wife was calm, too, because she could text
back and forth with Lewis.
“I think it would have been a lot worse – she would have been really concerned – if there was no way to communicate,” Lewis said. “That made all the difference in settling fears and anxiety. Because I was safe. It wasn’t a crash. I just landed and got stuck and couldn’t get out because I was in the middle of nowhere.”
That’s why his advice to other pilots who fly in the
backcountry is to carry an inReach.
“At the end of the day, the minor additional cost to be able to communicate with somebody if something happens, and being able to provide details of the situation so that rescue can be prepared, is huge peace of mind,” he said. “I recommend it to everybody.”
NOTICE: To access the Iridium satellite network for live tracking and messaging, including SOS capabilities, an active satellite subscription is required. Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit the use of satellite communications devices. It is the responsibility of the user to know and follow all applicable laws in the jurisdictions where the device is intended to be used.
The post Frostbitten Pilot Rescued After Burying Plane On -35° Night appeared first on Garmin Blog.
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Data Comm: Easy and Efficient Cockpit Communication
Technology is changing the way we fly. Technological advancements are improving the safety and efficiency in how we aviate and navigate through increased in-flight automation and GPS navigation. Today, tech is even enhancing the way we communicate, with digitally delivered text messages — known as datalink communications — in the cockpit. These services, known as Data Comm, are expanding throughout the world to complement traditional voice communications between flight crews and air traffic controllers. That helps save time, reduce delays and cockpit workload, and more.
What are datalink communications?
In two words: text messages. The datalink communications network is a series of VHF ground stations and/or satellites delivering messages between air traffic controllers and pilots. Traditionally, pilots received their departure clearances and weather reroutes via radio transmissions. It’s an effective system, but Data Comm services offer an alternative to avoid frequency congestion and mitigate delivery or read back errors by sending clearance and reroute information directly to pilots in text format. This method was originally intended to help reduce the number of miscommunications — and ultimately reduce pilot workload.
How does it work?
When an aircraft is flying above land with ground-based coverage, the VHF ground stations act as the primary communication link. For oceanic flights where ground stations aren’t available, a satellite network becomes the primary mode. At select airports with controller-pilot datalink communications (CPDLC) departure clearance capabilities, pilots can send their flight information to air traffic control from the flight deck, either upon departure or via pre-departure clearance services. Upon receipt and approval, controllers respond with route details, departure clearance information and approval. Additionally, reroute information can be sent via Data Comm for pilots to review and respond accordingly via digital text message.
For several aircraft types equipped with our G3000 or G5000 integrated flight decks, compatible Data Comm equipment and enablement, these messages and flight information can be directly uploaded and incorporated into the flight plan for added convenience.
Garmin datalink communications solutions
Garmin offers a wide range of datalink communications solutions tailored to meet diverse aircraft and operations. Through the FltPlan.com team at Garmin, pilots can take advantage of U.S. FAA Data Comm departure clearances, en route services and more for $499 per select aircraft per year. Visit our website to learn more about which airframes are current candidates for FAA Data Comm services, which regions and airports are eligible for CPDLC-departure clearances and more.
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Garmin Aviation Expands Online Education Series
The Garmin aviation training team is making it easier for pilots to enhance their avionics skills from the comfort of home. Throughout April, May and June, several free webinars and promotions on select eLearning courses are available for many of our most popular avionics. These online classes range from basic product fundamentals best operating practices and techniques to expert tips and tricks. Learn about our GTN and GTN Xi series navigators, GFC 500 and GFC 600 retrofit autopilots, Garmin weather radars, the Garmin Pilot app, and G1000, G1000 NXi, G3000, G5000 and more.
Pilot Training –
Approaches
Learn techniques and best operating practices for using
Garmin navigation and flight control systems to set up and fly ILS and a
GPS-guided WAAS LPV approaches into all types of airports.
April 16, 2020, 10 a.m. CT: Register Here
Weather Radar Pilot
Training
Get familiar with the fundamentals of radar technology and
learn techniques and safety tips to help maximize the benefits of your Garmin
airborne weather radar system.
April 24, 2020, 10 a.m. CT: Register Here
GTN VNAV Pilot Training
Explore techniques for flying descent vertical navigation
profiles throughout the en route and terminal phases of flight with your GTN or
GTN Xi series touchscreen navigator.
April 30, 2020, 10 a.m. CT: Register Here
May 26, 2020, 10 a.m. CT: Register Here
GFC 600 Pilot Training
Learn the fundamentals of using our GFC 600 digital flight
control system and its advanced capabilities to couple and fly various
instrument approaches, set up flight profiles and more.
May 7, 2020, 10 a.m. CT: Register Here
Garmin Logic, Tips and Tricks:
GTN and G1000 Pilot Training
Get an overview of the Garmin design logic for its GPS-based
navigation systems and learn insider tips and tricks for getting the most out
of your GTN or G1000 system and its capabilities.
May 14, 2020, 10 a.m. CT: Register Here
GTN Follow-along Scenarios
Pilot Training
Receive step-by-step, scenario-based operational training on
our GTN series navigators, using the downloadable GTN simulator app on your
tablet or PC. To get the most out of the training, please have this installed
prior to joining the webinar.
May 22, 10 a.m. CT: Register Here
Garmin Pilot App
Get familiar with the fundamentals of the Garmin Pilot app —
including an effective preflight, map essentials and the latest on new route
data packages that help ensure you’ve downloaded all the data required for your
flight plan.
Garmin Pilot 101: Create and File a Flight Plan — April 22, 2020, 4 p.m. CT: Register Here
Garmin Pilot Tips and Tricks — May 12, 2020, 10 a.m. CT: Register Here
Garmin Pilot 101: Map Essentials — June 17, 2020, 4 p.m. CT: Register Here
Aviation eLearning Course
Sale
From March 30, 2020 through May 29, 2020, save 10% on select
Garmin aviation eLearning courses. Using typical flight scenarios, these
courses provide a new pilot (or an experienced pilot who wants a refresher) instruction
on best practices for operational use. Eligible courses are listed below.
- G5000 Essentials eLearning Course 2.0
- GTN Essentials eLearning Course 2.0
- Garmin Aviation Weather Radar 2.0
eLearning Course - Garmin TXi Essentials eLearning
Course - Garmin G3000 Essentials eLearning
Course
For additional information visit, Garmin.com/aviationwebinars.
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https://www.garmin.com/en-US/blog/aviation/garmin-aviation-expands-online-education-series/
Avionics Care: Cleaning and Disinfecting Guidance
Cleaning your Garmin avionics is a great way to not only
maintain a clean cockpit environment, but also help prevent the spread of
disease. Because our products are built with sophisticated electronic
components and touchscreen materials, it’s important to take special care in
choosing which cleaning method is best for your specific Garmin products. Below
are general guidelines for cleaning the touchscreens, buttons, knobs and bezels
on Garmin avionics.
NOTE: The following guidance is intended to help reduce
the spread of disease while preserving the integrity of Garmin aviation
products. Garmin does not guarantee that it will do so in all cases. For
general cleaning and disinfecting guidance, please refer to CDC guidelines and
other applicable guidelines.
Cleaning and Disinfecting:
- Cleaners containing ammonia will harm the antireflective
coating on many Garmin aviation display lenses. - Disinfecting using a solution of 70% isopropyl
alcohol that does not contain ammonia is preferred. Solutions of up to 91%
isopropyl alcohol are also acceptable. - Clean the display lens using a clean, lint-free
cloth and a cleaner that is specified as safe for antireflective coatings. - For other exposed surfaces such as knobs,
buttons and bezels, a damp cloth with soap and water is acceptable. Garmin does
not recommend bleach-based cleaners, ammonia-based cleaners or other harsh
chemicals on any surface. - Remove all soap/soap residue to prevent buttons
and knobs from gumming up or becoming slippery. - Many aviation products are not rated as
waterproof. Spraying or wetting the units to the extent where moisture could go
beyond the exterior surfaces could damage the unit.
This information is sourced from Garmin Service Advisory 2051: Cleaning/Disinfecting Guidance.
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