Has Been Providing Upgrades For More Than A Decade

Garmin recently celebrated the delivery of its 500th G1000 integrated flight deck upgrade for King Air aircraft. For more than a decade, the G1000 has modernized the King Air cockpit by providing operators with enhanced operational benefits and increased aircraft utility, while also offering significant weight savings and a lower cost of operation. Earlier this year, Garmin began deliveries of the G1000 NXi for King Air aircraft, which carries on the lineage and success of the renowned G1000 integrated flight deck.

“As one of the most successful avionics retrofits in this class of aircraft, we have seen G1000 installations in King Air aircraft of varying backgrounds – from fleet workhorses to individual operators,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “We would like to express our gratitude to not only our customers, but our talented and trusted dealer network who have helped us to achieve such a tremendous milestone. We look forward to growing the success of this program even further so thousands of owners and operators can continue to experience the benefits of the G1000 and G1000 NXi integrated flight deck in the King Air cockpit.”

The milestone G1000 was installed by Elliott Aviation in Moline, Illinois in a King Air B200 operated by Keewatin Air, a long-time Garmin customer. Keewatin Air provides medevac and air ambulance services in remote areas of the rugged Canadian Arctic. This milestone upgrade marks Keewatin Air’s ninth G1000 integrated flight deck upgrade within their fleet of King Air aircraft, with intentions to add more in the future.   

“For the past eight years, the Garmin G1000 retrofit program for King Air aircraft has played a major role in the success of Elliott Aviation. This program shines above all others because it replaces the entire avionics suite - not just parts of the system - and it literally zero-times the aircraft avionics with the latest technology and best-in-class Garmin customer support,” said Mark Wilken, Elliott Aviation vice president of avionics programs and operational logistics. “Elliott Aviation viewed this program as a true winner from the beginning and we look to forward retrofitting many more King Air’s with G1000 NXi for years to come.”

“Keewatin Air operates an all-G1000 fleet – equipping seven aircraft in 2015 and two more in 2017 – which has allowed us to set the standard in air ambulance operations and ensure that our flight crews have the best systems available to them to help make every medevac a safe and successful mission,” said D. Wayne McLeod, CEO/president of Keewatin Air. “This standardization has also resulted in significant maintenance cost savings in our operation.”

This Garmin milestone comes 10 years after the company announced its initial retrofit program for the King Air, which has grown to include the King Air C90A/B, 200, B200, 300 and 350 series aircraft. Since its introduction, the G1000 integrated flight deck has revolutionized the King Air cockpit by incorporating key benefits, such as Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT), Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP), geo-referenced approach charts, datalink weather and more. With the G1000 upgrade, these aircraft also comply with global airspace modernization initiatives as they receive a fully integrated, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out solution, PBN/RNP and LPV/APV approach guidance. As a complete retrofit, the G1000 upgrade solves parts obsolescence among the King Air fleet with zero-time avionics and provides an estimated weight savings of 200 pounds or more compared to the current system, allowing additional baggage, passenger and fuel load flexibility.

Announced in January 2017, the successor to the ever-popular G1000 integrated flight deck, the G1000 NXi, has continued to build upon its success. Boasting modernized flight displays, the G1000 NXi supports faster map rendering and smoother panning throughout the PFD and MFD. Features such as wireless cockpit connectivity - including wireless aviation database updates using Garmin Flight Stream, enhanced situational awareness with SurfaceWatch and more, are all available with the G1000 NXi. Modernized situational awareness tools such as geographical map overlay within the HSI and visual approaches add to the G1000 NXi feature set. Additionally, King Air owners and operators with an existing G1000 integrated flight deck can upgrade to the G1000 NXi with minimal aircraft down time and disruption to the panel as the displays preserve the same footprint and connector.
 
(Image provided with Garmin news release)

FMI: www.garmin.com/aviation