Will Be Integrated At The Top Of The Center Stack In A Custom Bracket

ICON Aircraft announced recently that its A5 light sport amphibian will use the Garmin aera 796 as its standard GPS system. The large-format touchscreen unit is Garmin’s flagship portable and was introduced to critical acclaim in September of 2011. The unit will be integrated at the top of the A5’s center stack with a plug-and-play custom-designed bracket, and will be removable for use outside the aircraft.

“The Garmin aera 796 was a natural choice for ICON because it’s the best portable aviation GPS system available,” said ICON Aircraft VP of Design Klaus Tritschler. “Having a portable unit is important because it allows pilots to do their flight planning on the unit before ever getting into the cockpit. This maximizes flying time and builds familiarity with the GPS system so that using it while airborne becomes second nature. Additionally, the 796 has an excellent user interface, which is something of an obsession at ICON.”

The 796 offers a full range of modern features. The 7-inch touch screen features pinch to zoom, and the display is viewable even in direct sunlight. The unit also has 3D Vision terrain view, satellite weather information with NEXRAD, VFR sectional charts, SafeTaxi airport diagrams, AOPA airport directory, and other recent enhancements.

“We’re very excited that ICON has chosen the aera 796 for the A5,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin’s Vice President of Aviation Sales and Marketing. “Garmin shares ICON’s philosophy that an elegant and simple user interface can make a powerful tool surprisingly easy and intuitive to use. This reduces the workload on the pilot, ensuring that his or her focus can remain on airmanship and enjoying the flight. This is a particularly valuable feature for new sport pilots at which the A5 is aimed.”

The ICON-Garmin agreement is one of many agreements that ICON is developing with component and subassembly suppliers. Because the GPS system is a key consumer touchpoint, the selection of the aera 796 represents an important milestone for the company as it ramps up for A5 production.

FMI: www.iconaircraft.com