Will Meet Standards For European Single Sky Initiative

A new series of aviation VHF COM and NAV/COM radios, the GTR and GNC series, has been announced by Garmin. As the replacement products for the popular SL 30 and SL 40 models, the GTR series COM transceivers and GNC series NAV/COM radios include a breadth of new features to reduce pilot workload, while also offering an affordable solution to meet the requirements of the 8.33 kHz channel spacing mandate recently enacted by the European Union under the Single European Sky (SES) initiative.

“These products have truly reinvented the stand-alone COM and NAV/COM radios with novel features like reverse database look-up and the COM monitor function, which bring new efficiencies to cockpit radio management,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin’s vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “But beyond that, these products demonstrate Garmin’s commitment to aviators worldwide by providing the solutions they need to meet the latest regulatory requirements in their regions, such as the recent SES mandate.”

The SES mandate aims to enhance safety and efficiency of air transport in Europe, by tripling the number of channels available for aircraft communications. This mandate requires all aircraft using European airspace to be equipped with 8.33 kHz radios by December 31, 2017. Select GTR and GNC models offer both 25 kHz and the 8.33 kHz operational capabilities required to comply with the law.

The series offers a variety of original features never seen before in a stand-alone COM and NAV/COM radios. A unique frequency database makes it easy to find frequencies associated with a given airport or facility just by entering the location name or station ID. And when manually tuning a frequency, the reverse lookup function will automatically provide the navaid or airport identifier. Pilots can also find the nearest airport, area control center, flight service station, weather frequencies and VORs. All models also include a COM monitor function, which provides the utility of two receivers in one, allowing the pilot to listen to ATIS transmissions without leaving the active ATC frequency, as one example.

The GTR and GNC series automatically store the 20 most recently used frequencies. Plus, the radios allow for storage of up to 15 most-used frequencies such as the pilot’s home airport or other frequently visited destinations. A familiar flip-flop feature allows channels to be entered in a standby window, and then activated with a press of a button. All models also include a built-in, voice activated two-place intercom. The GNC series NAV/COM radios offer all of the same COM features, while also adding navigation capability with VOR/ILS with Glideslope. The GNC series also works well with select Garmin flight displays including the G500, G600, G500H and G3X to display the NAV indicators in the primary field of view, as well as integrate with most autopilots.

The GTR and GNC series are more powerful than their SL-series predecessors with versions available with 10- or 16-watt transmit power, allowing for increased range. The GTR 225 includes 10 watts of transmit power and 25 kHz frequency spacing for $1,995. The GTR 225A adds 8.33 kHz frequency spacing for $2,995. And the GTR 225B includes 8.33 kHz spacing and 16-watt transmit power for $3,995. The GNC 255A includes 10 watts of transmit power for $4,495 and the GNC 255B includes 16 watts of transmit power for $5,495. Both GNC models include 8.33 kHz spacing.

All products in the series have received Technical Standard Order (TSO) authorization from the FAA and are expected to be available in February to U.S. and global destinations accepting FAA TSO. The GTR and GNC series will be available in Europe upon European Technical Standard Order (ETSO) authorization, expected in first quarter 2013.

(Pictured: Top, Garmin GNC255. Bottom, Garmin GTR225. Images provided by Garmin)

FMI: www.garmin.com