Deliveries Begin In Europe

The EASA has validated the U.S. STC for the installation of the G1000 avionics suite in the King Air 200 and B200. Garmin said Tuesday that deliveries have already gotten underway in Europe.

“We’ve gone to great lengths to make sure customers who upgrade to this panel have the same leading edge technologies they would find in a jet, while also enjoying the utility and affordability of their King Air,” said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s vice president of marketing. “Receiving EASA validation is an important milestone for Garmin’s G1000 retrofit program, and we believe it will be a popular avionics upgrade for owners and operators.”

Garmin says installation of the G1000 system modernizes the King Air’s panel and meets current European regulatory requirements including 8.33 kHz VHF Communication, VHF Com Immunity from FM radio broadcasts, B-RNAV, P-RNAV, RVSM, SSR Mode S Elementary Surveillance (ELS), SSR Mode S Enhanced Surveillance (EHS), ADS –B (Automatic Dependant Surveillance Broadcast), and TAWS Class B The G1000 avionics suite integrates all primary flight information, navigation data, communications, terrain awareness, traffic, weather, and engine instruments on a large 15-inch multi-function display (MFD) and two 10.4-inch primary flight displays (PFD). The G1000 installation on the King Air 200/B200 includes the 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 such as coupled space based augmentation system (SBAS) approaches such as LNAV/VNAV, LPV and APV.

Garmin G1000 King Air Panel

The King Air 200/B200 STC also includes approval for Garmin’s synthetic vision technology (SVT) that presents a 3D depiction of terrain, obstacles, traffic and the runway environment on the G1000’s PFD so that the image replicates what pilots would see outside the cockpit on a clear day. Land, water and sky are clearly differentiated with shading and textures that are similar to the topographical colors found on the MFD moving map. SVT works seamlessly to alert pilots of potential ground hazards by displaying terrain and obstacles which pose a threat to the aircraft with appropriate TAWS alert coloring, as well as voice alerts. SVT also includes pathways (or Highway- In-The-Sky) that are depicted as 3D “flying rectangles” and help pilots stay on course when flying en route legs, VNAV legs, GPS/WAAS vertical approach procedures, ILS approach procedures, and arrival and departure procedures. SVT is available immediately for King Air 200/B200 owners and is an optional upgrade.

Standard features of the G1000 avionics suite include Class-B terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS), dual integrated solid-state attitude and heading reference systems (AHRS), and dual integrated digital air data computers. The King Air 200/B200 STC also includes Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) support. This will allow aircraft to fly more optimum profiles, gain fuel savings and increase airspace capacity. 

King Air 200

Available as an option is Garmin ChartView that overlays the aircraft’s position on an electronic version of Jeppesen’s charts and airport diagrams. Thanks to the G1000’s lightweight and modular design, the King Air 200/B200’s G1000 installation results in a weight savings of approximately 200 pounds.

King Air owners interested in this panel upgrade should contact an authorized G1000 retrofit dealer for an installation quote and to place an order.

FMI: www.garmin.com