Boyer says, "Let the Transition Begin"

By ANN Correspondent Rose Dorcey

In a joint press conference AOPA President Phil Boyer joined Garmin representatives as they introduced the Garmin Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)-compatible GNS 480. Earlier this month, Garmin won the first-ever certification for an LPV-capable avionics system, clearing the way for WAAS to live up to its potential.

"Wherever I go, GA pilots want to know, 'How can we get an ILS at our airport?'" said Boyer. "WAAS is the answer for providing precision approaches to all of those airports where ILS just isn't financially or technically possible. Now, with arrival of GPS units that can be used for both lateral and vertical guidance, we truly have a satellite-based navigation system that does everything for the instrument-rated GA pilot that ILS does."

Ten years ago, Garmin was the first avionics manufacturer to gain approval for Global Positioning System (GPS) approaches in IFR conditions through its GPS 155. Garmin's newest navigator, GNS 480, provides the next step in GPS technology - precise lateral and vertical guidance. The GNS 480 is the first panel-mounted system approved for Localizer-Precision with Vertical guidance (LPV) approaches.

"In 1994, we proved that pilots could rely on satellite navigation for IFR operations and that event changed the course of aviation," said Gary Kelley, Garmin's director of marketing. "We believe certification of the GNS 480 for LPV approaches is equally significant, because it provides pilots with primary GPS navigation during all phases of flight and opens the possibility of shooting an ILS-like approach into thousands of airports that are not currently served by an ILS."

WAAS sensors receive the signal broadcast by GPS satellites, correct any errors, and rebroadcast the corrected signals to WAAS-enabled aircraft receivers, thereby enhancing the integrity, accuracy, reliability, and safety of the already-highly-accurate GPS signal.  Approved today for installation in over 700 aircraft, the unit sells for $11,995.

FMI: www.garmin.com