Aero-TV AirBorne News Update Features Garmin's Latest Portable GPS/NAV System

Garmin has launched a new offensive in the portable avionics wars. Their latest salvo is a much updated new uber-portable to replace the Garmin 696 line. The aera 795 and 796 are a compelling upgrade. 3D Vision, Touchscreen, and a serious price cut means that Garmin is gearing up to take on the Aero-iPad industry.

The $2499 aera 796 does everything the 696 did... but adds a touchscreen interface, pilot-selectable screen orientation and 3D Vision. The aera 796 also ups the ante with a digital document viewer, scratch pad and pre-loaded geo-referenced AeroNav IFR and VFR enroute charts.

A high-rez, 7-inch display offers portrait or landscape modes. Four touch keys represent “Back”, “Menu”, “Direct-To” and “Nearest” for quick navigation to frequent functions, with customizable icons available to simplify repetitive tasks. 3D Vision uses GPS position and a terrain database to recreate a behind-the-aircraft perspective of the topographic landscape as well as a supplemental 3D depiction that includes terrain, hazards, obstacles, runways and airport signposts in the aircraft’s proximity.

The aera 796 may be qualified for use as either a Class I or Class II EFB) and for pilots who prefer Jepp charts, Garmin also offers a ChartView option. The aera 796 also includes a GXM 40 receiver for XM Satellite Weather and SiriusXM Radio. That will give you NEXRAD, METARs, TAFs, TFRs, lightning, winds aloft, turbulence forecasts, PIREPs, icing forecast and other weather products. Both units boast SafeTaxi, Airport directories, and an optional ACU-KWIK FBO directory.

The aera 796 will also display traffic if coupled to a compatible traffic source. The aera 795, without the Satellite Weather capability, will retail for $2199.

FMI: www.garmin.com, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, http://twitter.com/AeroNews