Big-Screen Portable Aviation Navigator Adds Airways, Expanded WX

Garmin got a leap on new product announcements ahead of next week's AOPA Expo in San Jose, CA... with the introduction of a significant leap forward for portable navigation devices. The electronics and avionics maker announced its flagship GPSMAP 696 Thursday morning, a tablet-style device that builds on the already impressive capabilities of its smaller GPSMAP 496.

The new 696 incorporates the popular aviation features of the GPSMAP 496 while also adding new capabilities such as airways, electronic charts and expanded weather. In addition, the GPSMAP 696's information is displayed on a screen that is three times larger than the GPSMAP 496.

"The GPSMAP 696 gives pilots exactly what they have been looking for, a GPS with a large screen, electronic charts and real-time weather," said Gary Kelley, Garmin's vice president of marketing. "It's our most feature rich, easy-to-use aviation portable, and is ideal for those wanting to minimize flipping through paper charts while in the cockpit."

• Garmin's new 696 will be on display and available for purchase at AOPA Expo. However, if you can't wait until then -- or won't be able to attend Expo -- you may get an EXCLUSIVE peek at the GPSMAP 696 NOW, thanks to Aero-TV! 

The GPSMAP 696 sports a large, 7-inch portrait screen that makes it possible to view an entire approach plate on the display. The high-resolution, sunlight readable screen uses Garmin's latest technology to ensure that pilots will be able to read the vibrant display day or night.

The bezel that frames the bright screen has multiple keys on the bottom and right sides. The soft keys at the bottom of the display control the most commonly used features of the current page, such as turning the weather display on/off.

The dedicated keys on the display's right side have specific functions such as nearest, direct to, flight plan, zoom in/out and menu. Also on the display's right side is a rotary knob/joystick --similar to the G1000's joystick -- that lets pilots enter airport identifiers, pan the map, or scroll to page and sub-page groups.

Part 91 pilots may be tempted to leave their IFR enroute paper charts at home, thanks to the 696's new IFR map mode. This mode displays a map similar to a standard enroute chart that has important features like victor airways, jet routes, minimum enroute altitude (MEA) and leg distance. Garmin argues the 696's IFR map mode offers better situational awareness than traditional charts, because it also subtlety displays major visual reference points like rivers, state boundaries, highways and railroad tracks from Garmin's built-in basemap.

The GPSMAP 696 also includes Garmin FliteCharts, an electronic version of the National Aeronautical Chart Office (NACO) US Terminal Procedures Publication. With FliteCharts, pilots can quickly find and view all NACO departure procedures (DP), standard terminal arrival routes (STARs), approach charts and airport diagrams. If the current approach is known, the GPSMAP 696 automatically selects the correct chart based on the flight plan.

FliteCharts are available every 28 days, and will not be available on the 696 if they are not updated regularly. The GPSMAP 696 may be used in lieu of paper approach charts when used in accordance with AC 90-78.

Like the previous 396 and 496 handhelds, the GPSMAP 696 has a receiver for XM radio and XM WX Satellite Weather (US customers only) that gives next-generation radar (NEXRAD), aviation routine weather reports (METARs), terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAFs), temporary flight restrictions (TFRs), lightning, winds aloft, turbulence forecasts, and several other important weather products. The 696 builds on those offerings as Garmin's first portable device with PIREPs and icing forecast information.

The weather data may be laid directly over the unit's navigation and topographic map databases. Weather and radio information is delivered to the 696 via Garmin's new GXM 40 smart antenna, which is included with the GPSMAP 696. XM WX subscription data is available from XM WX Satellite Weather.

Other popular features found on the GPSMAP 696 include Smart Airspace, SafeTaxi and AOPA Airport Directory data. Suggested pricing for the GPSMAP 696 is $3,295, including a yoke mount, GXM 40 antenna, cigarette lighter adapter and AC adapter cable, USB-to-PC interface cable, low-profile remote GPS antenna, unit cover, free Jeppesen update certificate, owner's manual and quick-reference guide.

North American customers who don't need XM radio and XM WX Satellite Weather may opt instead the GPSMAP 695 Americas, that has identical features to the GPSMAP 696 except that it does not include the GXM 40 smart antenna and may not be upgraded to add XM datalink capability in the future. Pricing for the 695 begins at $2,695.

Garmin also offers a GPSMAP 695 Atlantic and GPSMAP 695 Pacific version for customers in Europe and Australasia, respectively. The GPSMAP 695 Atlantic is pre-loaded with VFR reporting points (VRPs), private airports, and obstacles. The GPSMAP 695 Atlantic and Pacific do not include XM capability, AOPA Airport Directory, FliteCharts or SafeTaxi diagrams.

FMI: www.garmin.com