Garmin announced it has received additional autopilot approvals in several aircraft models for the GFC 500 and GFC 600 digital autopilots. The Beechcraft Baron A55 is approved for the GFC 600 while the GFC 500 has received certification for Robertson STOL (short takeoff or landing) equipped Cessna 180 and Cessna 185 aircraft, adding on to the already certified Cessna 180 and 185. The GFC 500 and GFC 600 deliver superior in-flight characteristics, self-monitoring capabilities and minimal maintenance needs when compared to older generation autopilot systems. The GFC 500 is intended for single-engine piston aircraft, while the GFC 600 is intended for high performance piston single/twin-engine and turbine aircraft that have a wide range of speed and performance characteristics.
The fully featured GFC 500 and GFC 600 autopilots provide thousands of existing general aviation aircraft with a simple, lightweight, cost-effective autopilot upgrade path. The GFC 500 and GFC 600 incorporate a solid-state attitude source with robust self-monitoring capabilities to provide superior autopilot performance, greater reliability and safety tools that are similar to Garmin’s popular GFC 700 autopilot used in our integrated flight decks. In addition to traditional autopilot capabilities such as altitude hold, vertical speed and heading modes, the GFC 500 and GFC 600 also include altitude preselect, VNAV, Level Mode, underspeed and overspeed protection and more. Pilots can also select, couple to and fly various instrument approaches, including GPS, ILS, VOR, LOC and back course approaches when paired with a compatible GPS navigator.
The GFC 500 autopilot uniquely integrates with Garmin’s GI 275 or G5 electronic flight instruments, as well as a combination of either a standby GI 275 or G5 electronic flight instrument interfaced to a
G500 TXi flight display, or a G3X Touch flight display to provide pilots with an economical and modern autopilot solution. The autopilot mode controller features large, dedicated keys and knobs, as well as a control wheel that allows for easy adjustment to aircraft pitch, airspeed and vertical speed, as well as a Level Mode (LVL) that returns the aircraft to straight-and-level flight with the push of a dedicated button.
As a standard feature on both the GFC 500 and GFC 600 autopilots, pilots receive Garmin Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP), which works to assist the pilot in maintaining the aircraft in a stable flight condition. ESP functions independently of the autopilot and works in the background while the pilot is hand-flying the aircraft to help avoid inadvertent flight attitudes or bank angles by nudging the pilot to return the aircraft to a safe flight attitude. Additionally, pilots can take advantage of Garmin Smart Glide, a safety-enhancing tool that can help pilots in an engine power loss event by automating certain tasks and helping to reduce pilot workload.
The GFC 600 now includes a new mode controller which features a larger, color Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen that enhances the display of mode annunciations. Available with the GFC 600, Smart Rudder Bias provides pilots assistance against the hazardous effects of one-engine inoperative (OEI) events when the aircraft is appropriately equipped. The system continuously monitors engine parameters using Engine Indication System (EIS) data displayed on a G500 TXi or G600 TXi flight display and activates when the system detects a predetermined power differential between each engine. Once activated, rudder force is dynamically adjusted to aid a pilot in providing enough force to the rudder to help control a sideslip.
Enhanced Garmin ESP settings for OEI conditions can help Smart Rudder Bias-equipped aircraft avoid potentially hazardous flight attitudes and airspeeds by tailoring these settings to help address the aerodynamic characteristics associated with OEI operations. Smart Rudder Bias requires a G500 TXi or G600 TXi configured as a primary flight display (PFD) with engine indication system (EIS) data, which can be shown as a strip on the G500 TXi or G600 TXi, or on a separate dedicated TXi EIS display. Additionally, Smart Rudder Bias requires the yaw axis option be installed on the GFC 600.
The GFC 600 digital autopilot for the Beechcraft Baron A55 and the GFC 500 for RSTOL-equipped Cessna 180 and Cessna 185 aircraft are available immediately through select Garmin authorized dealers. Garmin continues to add additional aircraft models to the growing STC list for the GFC 500 and GFC 600 autopilots.