The sweeping acceptance of commercially available GPS navigation and satellite communications equipment in general aviation (GA) has been unimaginably valuable to pilots, ATCs, and ground crews alike. Along with electronic flight books (EFBs), off-the-shelf satellite receivers have made private and recreational aviation safer and more efficient than ever; and the name most commonly associated with these advanced technologies is Garmin.
For more than 30 years, Garmin has been on the leading edge of affordable, portable satellite-based avionic solutions that can go anywhere, and pair seamlessly with a host of portable electronic devices (PEDs) that are approved for use in aviation. No other family of satellite-based devices have Garmin’s native capacity to go straight from the carport to the cockpit, which is why if you’re looking for tips on how to choose the right device to take in the air with you, you’ve come to the right place.
Aviation Professionals Trust Garmin GPS Devices
There’s a reason pilots, aircrews, and other GA professionals trust Garmin almost exclusively for their satellite-based navigation. With access to more than 50 GPS and GLONASS constellation satellites, Garmin handheld GPS avionics devices provide the unmatched speed and accuracy that pilots and other aviation professionals know they can count on for pinpoint positioning data anywhere on the globe. Garmin understands that whether it’s in the air or on the ground, lives depend on the performance of their devices; and their commitment to delivering the industry’s safest, most reliable equipment and accessories is exactly what private and corporate aviators when it comes to integrating with their own PEDs and flight plans.
With a lock-on speed that’s 20% faster than any other commercially available satellite-based solution, premium quality Garmin avionics devices boast an accuracy to within 3m anywhere, on an operating velocity of 800 kts. That makes Garmin aviation devices the ideal navigation tools for precise position and velocity information across the full range of coordinate measurements, including:
- Longitude;
- Latitude;
- Altitude;
- Speed; and,
- GPS track.
The same 50-satellite, high-speed acquisition and locking attributes that give Garmin GPS aviation units the advantage in positioning is integral to the performance of all their satellite-based devices. And with their ability to operate either as standalone devices, with panel-mounted equipment, or with an even wider range of iPhone®, iPad®, and Android™ equipped smartphones and tablets, they round out a full selection of Garmin aviation products that pilots know they can rely on for all their navigation, and airborne activities.
Garmin’s Portable Powerhouses: Aera 660s and 760s
No matter if you’re a survey or agricultural pilot who’s in the air every day, or a recreational pilot who only flies on weekends, you need the best navigation tools available. Not every private, or small aircraft operator can afford a panel mounted navigation display though, which is why Garmin portable GPS devices are so highly regarded for the full range of pre-flight, and in-flight activities.
Advanced portable navigation devices like the 5“ Garmin Aera® 660, and its 7“ sibling, the Aera® 760, are the aviation industry’s leading satellite-based GPS units for all aspects of flight planning, and they support the full array of navigational referencing, including:
- Direct-to-navigation. The direct-to-navigation functionality built into the Garmin Aera allows you to enter a course to any waypoint that’s free from any deviation, or necessary course correction.
- Topographical references. The dynamic ground-based reference mapping used on both the Garmin 660 and 760 provides critical VFR identification of airports, cities, terrain, and ground obstacles.
- VFR and IFR charts. Garmin portables offer both VFR sectional and IFR en route charts, giving you complete geo-referenced coordinates, as well as a full view of high or low-route airways.
With built-in comms and cockpit integration, weather updates, and enhanced taxi and airspace traffic visibility, highly sensitive Garmin GPS aircraft avionics make the fullest use of the data that SBAS / WAAS / GLONASS constellations have to offer. Not only are Garmin 660 and 760 GPS units irreplaceable for safe navigation, but they also help eliminate costs that could be incurred due to unintended course deviations or unfavourable weather encounters.
Garmin’s GDL Gives You Maximum Safety and Surveillance
Garmin’s GDL® family of portable, and remote-mount Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) satellite receivers provide the blanket-level safety that aviators want as part of a comprehensive Garmin pilot GPS suite. In addition to the WAAS GPS positioning and attitude information available from the GDL’s own built-in receiver, they also provide a full range of high-speed weather and traffic content, making them the device you need to have for complete air and ground safety awareness.
The GDL is the perfect real-time extension for the Garmin portable aviation GPS and boasts safety options that include:
- Dual-link traffic updating with intuitive Garmin aircraft TargetTrendâ„¢ trajectory projections, along with TerminalTrafficâ„¢ visibility to ADS-B equipped aircraft and groundcrew vehicles at airports.
- Access to Flight Information Service-Broadcast (FIS-B) updating from ADS-B-supported weather services, including the ability to send animated graphical weather displays to linked devices.
- Advanced situational awareness tools that provide a dynamic view of all ADS-B equipped aircraft in your vicinity, including relative motion vector and velocity tracking for the best possible avoidance planning.
And like other Garmin aviation GPS devices, not only are GDLs compatible with the full selection of Garmin G3X Touch™ flight displays, but also with all standard smartphones and tablets via wired, or wireless connection. It even allows for up to 2 devices to be wired directly to the device, while 2 others can be simultaneously connected via Bluetooth®.
Garmin GLO 2 Receivers Bring Bluetooth to the Forefront
No matter if it’s for cockpit communications, or controlling cabin temperatures, Bluetooth connectivity is playing an increasingly prominent role in aviation. And although Bluetooth has been an integral component of most Garmin aircraft products for a long time, their GLO 2 Portable Bluetooth GPS / GLONASS receiver allows you to extend all the advantages of satellite-based positioning directly to any Bluetooth capable device that you want.
GLO 2s feature rapid setup and provide WAAS-based referencing for precise positioning and velocity data that can be paired to any Bluetooth-enabled device. When integrated with Garmin’s full-featured Pilotâ„¢ software suite, it gives aviators access to a full range of flight, and flight planning applications, including:
- Interactive 3D Vision mapping on dynamic maps, or VFR / IFR charts;
- En route navigation data on airports, airspace, and weather information;
- Flight plan filing, with calculators for fuel burn, en route legs, and arrival and departure times;
- Avionic monitoring of real-time engine performance; and,
- Easy flight logging of landings, endorsements, and other trackable flight information.
GLO 2s are the perfect solution for aviators who have their own preferred portable devices but need a GPS capable receiver to get the most accurate data. For maximum convenience, they can even be powered from USB, as well as 12V / 24V power sources.
The Final Word
At the end of the day, regardless of the type of aircraft you fly, the surety of satellite-based navigation has become an irreplaceable part of modern aviation. For GA professionals, it’s a matter of cost as well as safety, which is why only the best commercial equipment wil do.
With Garmin handheld GPS hardware and receivers, aviators never have to worry about the accuracy, reliability, or comprehensiveness of their devices. They’re an investment in safety that you can’t afford to do without.
