Garmin G1000 Approved For DA-42 In Europe

Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd., says its G1000 integrated avionics system has been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in the Diamond DA42 Twin Star. The Type Certificate (TC) was presented to Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH for its DA42, which features the G1000 as standard equipment, during a special ceremony this morning at the 2004 Berlin Air Show (ILA), commemorating the first new aircraft certification granted by EASA.

This event also marked the first aircraft-level certification for the Garmin G1000 system.

"We are excited for Diamond Aircraft, because the G1000 perfectly complements this innovative aircraft design," said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s director of marketing. "This milestone could not have been achieved without the hard work, dedication and cooperation of a talented team of Diamond and Garmin personnel. The team effort on this project resulted in the certification of this new twin-engine aircraft, together with the first truly integrated, all-glass flightdeck in this aircraft class."

The G1000 system aboard the DA42 Twin Star boasts two 10.4-inch, high-definition LCDs. These active-matrix displays feature XGA resolution (1,024x768-pixel count) and are capable of presenting data in brilliant, sunlight-readable color.

The primary flight display (PFD) replaces traditional cockpit instruments and digitally integrates flight information on a single, large-format display for easier interpretation by the pilot. The PFD interfaces with Garmin’s innovative Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS), which features rapid, in-motion alignment — and can reliably align, even while the aircraft is in flight.

The multifunction display (MFD) puts all aircraft-systems monitoring and flight-planning functions at the pilot’s fingertips. The MFD paints a composite view of the aircraft’s environment, enhancing situational awareness and providing the pilot with all necessary information to make safe decisions during each phase of flight. Engine performance and situational data such as location, terrain, traffic, weather and airport information are all digitally depicted and can be easily interpreted at a glance on the large-format display.

The integrated design and reversionary capabilities of the G1000 allow all flight-critical data to transfer seamlessly to a single display — in the unlikely event of a display failure — for added safety and peace of mind during flight.

The Diamond DA42 Twin Star is a four-seat, all-carbon composite, twin-engine piston aircraft that features highly efficient, FADEC-controlled Thielert turbo-diesel power plants. With a standard tank capacity of 52 gallons and low fuel consumption, the DA42’s range is 780 to 1,700 nautical miles, depending on the power setting.

Garmin has already commenced technical training of its worldwide service-center network regarding the installation and maintenance of the G1000 system, demonstrating the company’s commitment to supporting the G1000 on an international scale.

FMI: www.garmin.com