SVT Optional... Approx. 100 Lbs Weight Savings Standard

Garmin has scored yet another big "get" for its increasingly ubiquitous G1000 avionics suite. The avionics manufacturer announced Monday the Federal Aviation Administration granted supplemental type certification (STC) for the G1000 in the King Air 200 and B200.

"We’ve gone to great lengths to make sure customers who upgrade to this panel have the same leading edge technologies they would find in a jet, while also enjoying the utility and affordability of their King Air," said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s vice president of marketing. "This retrofit is available to most King Air 200/B200 aircraft today because the STC takes into account the most common King Air configurations such as Blackhawk engines."

The three-panel G1000 avionics suite for the King Air integrates all primary flight information, navigation data, communications, terrain awareness, traffic, weather, and engine instruments on a large 15-inch multi-function display and two 10.4-inch primary flight displays. The G1000 installation on the King Air 200/B200 includes the GFC700 three-axis, fully digital, dual channel, fail passive automatic flight control system (AFCS).

The King Air 200/B200 STC also includes approval for Garmin’s synthetic vision technology. SVT works seamlessly to alert pilots of potential ground hazards by displaying terrain and obstacles which pose a threat to the aircraft with appropriate TAWS alert coloring, as well as voice alerts.

SVT also includes pathways (or Highway-In-The-Sky) that are depicted as 3D "flying rectangles" and help pilots stay on course when flying en route legs, VNAV legs, GPS/WAAS vertical approach procedures, ILS approach procedures, and arrival and departure procedures. SVT is available immediately as an optional upgrade for King Air 200/B200 owners.

Standard features of the G1000 avionics suite include WAAS, Class-B terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS), dual integrated solid-state attitude and heading reference systems (AHRS), and dual integrated digital air data computers. In addition, Garmin's GDL 69A is standard equipment, bringing integrated satellite weather datalink and digital-quality audio via XM WX Satellite Weather.

Garmin notes the 200/B200s G1000 installation results in a weight savings of approximately 100 pounds. A complete list of dealers authorized to sell and install the G1000 is available at the FMI link below.

FMI: www.garmin.com/buzz/g1000