Garmin is talking future enhancements for its GNS 400/500 line at Oshkosh

The company plans to upgrade its 400 and 500 avionics series, including the integrated GNS 430 and GNS 530. These upgrades refer to specific avionics units and include terrain advisories, certified Terrain Avoidance and Warning System (TAWS) and precision landings via the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). The company plans to start implementing its internal terrain and TAWS upgrades later this year.

"It has always been a goal of ours to add terrain, TAWS-B and WAAS to our popular line of panel-mount avionics, and we're excited to deliver these internal upgrades to our popular 400 and 500 series," said Gary Kelley, Garmin's director of marketing. "Pilots can expect true-to-form Garmin innovation in the way that our MFD-like GNS 430 and GNS 530 will display critical information about the terrain below and ahead of them, improving overall flight safety."

Upgrade Paths Garmin is committed to continuously improving its avionics as a service to current and future 400/500 series owners. As Garmin maps out further enhancements to its avionics product line, the company plans to offer the following upgrades to owners of its GPS 400, GNC 420, GNS 430, GPS 500 and GNS 530 avionics units.

These upgrades follow respective timelines:

• Garmin will offer terrain advisories as an internal upgrade on its 400/500 avionics in the fourth quarter of 2003. This upgrade will cost $500 and will enable the 400/500 series to identify potential hazards, displaying them in yellow and red, so the pilot can avoid possible CFIT accidents.
  

  

• Additionally, current Garmin 500 series owners can opt for a Class-B TAWS upgrade starting in the fourth quarter of 2003. This upgrade will cost $6,495 for orders placed through the end of the year. TAWS upgrades must be completed at Garmin's factory overhaul facilities in Olathe, Kan., and Romsey, U.K. This upgrade meets an important FAA mandate requiring TAWS-B for turbine-powered aircraft with six or more passenger seats.

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• Garmin is committed to offering WAAS upgrades for the 400/500 series and plans to provide the benefits of WAAS on these products for less than $1,500 by the end of 2004. This upgrade must also be completed at Garmin's overhaul facilities in the U.S. and U.K.

FMI: www.garmin.com