Latest Application For Synthetic Vision Technology

The latest addition to Garmin's ubiquitous G1000 Integrated Flight Deck, Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) has been approved for installation in Mooney Acclaims and Ovations by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Using sophisticated GPS-based graphic technology, Garmin's SVT provides a virtual depiction of terrain and water features, complete with obstacles and, in the case of aircraft equipped with Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance (TCAS) systems, airborne traffic, in 3-D perspective that gives pilots enhanced visual cues and improved situational awareness regardless of meteorological or lighting conditions.

"The availability of this kind of technology for single engine airplanes is revolutionizing general aviation," said Mooney CEO Dennis Ferguson. "Synthetic Vision, GPS/WAAS and Safe Taxi are among the most important advancements in avionics technology to come along in decades. They contribute significantly to overall flight safety and efficiency and can raise the level of a pilot's proficiency by virtue of the added capabilities they put at his or her fingertips.

"The addition of Synthetic Vision Technology to our fleet means Mooney will retain its accustomed position as the industry's leaders in value and performance," he added.

Mooney will begin installing the SVT-equipped G1000 avionics packages in production aircraft shortly. The company is also working on a package and pricing structure for aircraft owners who wish to add synthetic vision to their existing aircraft, through a software upgrade available through Garmin.

"Because the G1000 is a truly integrated and expandable system, all of its major components are designed and manufactured by a single company so that they work together to give pilots the complete picture," said Gary Kelley, Garmin's vice president of marketing. "SVT was designed as a retrofittable system and we have worked closely with Mooney to develop a process whereby customers can add SVT to their aircraft with very little downtime."

As ANN has reported, SVT diplays synthetic terrain, flight hazards, flight path marker and highway-in-the-sky on the primary flight display (PFD) to help the pilot maintain airborne situational awareness even when flying in conditions of reduced visibility or darkness. SVT blends the aircraft's position with information from topographical databases to create and display real-time 3D images.

Land, water and sky are clearly differentiated with shading and textures that are similar to the topographical colors found on the multi-function display (MFD) moving map. SVT also alerts pilots to terrain and obstacles with appropriate TAWS alert coloring.

FMI: www.mooney.com, www.garmin.com