The G1000 Continues Its March Toward Domination
Hot on the heels of the announcment Garmin's G1000 glass panel
cockpit will soon be offered in Cessna's Caravan turboprop, Garmin
announced Monday at NBAA 2007 it is expanding its G1000 King Air
retrofit program to include the King Air 200 and B200 models.
As ANN reported, Garmin
revealed in June 2006 the King Air C90 would be the first aircraft
eligible for a retrofit G1000 avionics suite.
The company tells ANN the C90 program is in the final
certification stages and is anticipated to receive its Supplemental
Type Certificate (STC) soon... so Garmin has begun a G1000 STC
program for the King Air 200 and B200.
"We are pleased with
the response we've received from C90 owners who want to add the
G1000 to their airplane, and adding the King Air 200 and B200 is a
natural progression for this retrofit program," said Gary Kelley,
Garmin's vice president of marketing. "This retrofit option allows
customers to transform their panel, without altering the King Air's
legendary performance or flight characteristics."
The G1000 avionics suite in the King Air 200 and B200 will be
very similar to the C90's all-glass avionics. It will integrate all
primary flight, navigation, communication, terrain, traffic,
weather, and Engine Instrumentation System (EIS) on a large 15-inch
multi-function display (MFD) and two 10.4-inch primary flight
displays (PFD). King Air 200 and B200 pilots will also have the
benefit of Garmin's GFC 700 three axis, fully digital, dual
channel, fail passive Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS). The
GFC 700 includes features you would expect in this class of
aircraft like coupled WAAS approaches, coupled vertical navigation
and Flight Level Change (FLC).
The King Air 200 and B200 will be among the first G1000 equipped
aircraft to include Garmin's Mode S transponder with 1090 MHz
Extended Squitter (ES). This Mode S transponder meets ADS-B
transmit guidelines and makes it possible for the aircraft to
automatically transmit position, velocity and heading
information.
Other standard features of the G1000 avionics suite include Wide
Area Augmentation System (WAAS), Class-B Terrain Awareness and
Warning System (TAWS), dual integrated solid-state Attitude and
Heading Reference Systems (AHRS), and dual integrated RVSM-capable
digital air data computers. Also included are Garmin's SafeTaxi,
ChartView and FliteCharts that simplify operation, enhance
situational awareness and increase safety during flight and when
taxiing. Garmin's GDL 69A will be available as an option and brings
integrated satellite weather datalink and digital-quality audio via
XM WX Satellite Weather (US only).
Garmin anticipates receiving the STC for the King Air 200 and
B200 early in 2009. This program will also include RVSM
certification as an option, according to the company.