Will Extend The Operational Life Of The Airplanes For The U.S. Government

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has selected the Garmin G950 Integrated Flight Deck its fleet of Sherpa aircraft (Shorts SD3-60).

The G950 provides the USFS with an advanced avionics suite to increase mission effectiveness, while also providing an added cost-savings that solves avionics obsolescence, exceeds regulatory requirements and expands the operational life of these versatile aircraft.

“In cooperation with Field Aerospace in Oklahoma City, Garmin is excited to have been selected as the Sherpa upgrade avionics provider with the G950 and to further expand our relationship with Field Aerospace,” said Carl Wolf, vice president of aviation marketing and sales. “This modernization program brings next generation avionics capability, expanded utility and NextGen compliance to the Sherpa fleet, providing the United States Forest Service with the best information available while in-flight as they support critical wildland fire operations.”

“Field Aerospace is pleased with the selection of the Garmin G950 avionics suite for this program,” said John Taylor, Field Aerospace vice president and general manager. “It is a very capable and cost-effective solution that is a great choice for the Sherpa aircraft and the Forest Service’s needs.”

The G950 encompasses all of the features of Garmin’s renowned G1000 Integrated Flight Deck, while integrating with the Sherpa’s existing autopilot, reducing cost and installation complexity. Three 12-inch liquid crystal displays (LCD) combine navigation, communication, terrain, traffic, weather and more within the G950 integrated avionics suite, providing the flight crew with easier access to the information they need. Flight plan information is overlaid on a rich, dynamic map displaying airspace, rivers, lakes, parks and woodland areas that are pertinent to the missions executed by the USFS.

Increased situational awareness provided by Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT), presents a 3D depiction of virtual terrain, obstacles, traffic and the runway environment. SVT works seamlessly with the Class-A Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) by providing alerts such as excessive closure rate and large glideslope deviations. Additional features of the G950 include WAAS/LPV approach capability, Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS II) and more, providing pilots with more safety enhancing technology to aid in mission effectiveness.

NextGen regulatory requirements are met with the ADS-B Out-compliant GTX 3000 Mode S Extended Squitter (ES) remote transponder. The GDL 88 ADS-B datalink provides flight crew with the additional benefit of ADS-B In traffic and weather. Replacement of the existing avionics with the G950 is estimated to provide a weight savings of up to 250 pounds, allowing the option to carry additional cargo, personnel or fuel. In addition to increased utility, the G950 offers greater reliability, increased dispatch rates and delivers tangible operational cost benefits.

The G950-equipped Sherpa aircraft will be utilized to support wildland fire operations, including smokejumper, passenger and cargo missions. Delivery of the first G950-equipped Sherpa aircraft for the United States Forest Service is anticipated to take place in Q3 2016.

(Images provided with Garmin news release)

FMI: www.garmin.com/aviation