Garmin International Inc. announced in early January its successor to the ever-popular G1000 integrated flight deck, the G1000 NXi. Boasting a modernized flight display design with significant performance enhancements, the G1000 NXi incorporates innovative capabilities into a state-of-the-art avionics platform. Features such as wireless cockpit connectivity, including wireless aviation database updates using Garmin Flight Stream, enhanced situational awareness with SurfaceWatch™, visual approaches, map overlay on the HSI and more, are all available with the G1000 NXi. Deliveries are expected to begin in February as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval for the G1000 NXi integrated flight deck in the King Air 200 and expects approval for the King Air 300/350 aircraft models within the coming weeks.
G1000 NXi on the surface: physical enhancements and display advancements
The G1000 NXi system incorporates modern processing power that supports faster map rendering and smoother panning throughout the displays. Saving valuable time in the cockpit, the displays initialize within seconds after start-up, providing immediate access to frequencies, flight plan data and more. The G1000 NXi system also incorporates contemporary animations, modernized design for improved readability and new LED back-lighting, offering increased display brightness and clarity, reduced power consumption, as well as improved dimming performance.
G1000 NXi for the next generation
Connext® wireless cockpit connectivity unlocks more capabilities from within the G1000 NXi integrated flight deck. Available as an option, Flight Stream 510 enables Database Concierge, the wireless transfer of aviation databases from the Garmin Pilot™ app on a mobile device to the G1000 NXi system. Flight Stream 510 also supports two-way flight plan transfer, the sharing of traffic, weather, GPS information, back-up attitude information and more, between the G1000 NXi and compatible mobile devices running Garmin Pilot or ForeFlight mobile. The D2™ Bravo and D2 Bravo Titanium aviator watches also sync with the Garmin Pilot app to ensure flight plan data matches throughout the cockpit.
Visual approaches integrated within the G1000 NXi system offer pilots safety-enhancing guidance in visual flight conditions based on a three-degree glideslope from the threshold of the runway. Pilots can select the runway for which they have been cleared to land, set customized minimums, select vectors or straight-in for the final approach intercept and fly a visual approach coupled with the autopilot. By utilizing visual approaches within the G1000 NXi, pilots are provided a more stable descent and precise flight path throughout the approach and landing phases of flight in visual conditions.
Geographical map overlay within the HSI is available on the primary flight display (PFD), which also supports the display of NEXRAD, FIS-B weather, weather radar, SafeTaxi® airport diagrams, traffic, terrain and more. For example, pilots can display SafeTaxi on the HSI map while preparing flight plan information on the multi-function display (MFD) or simultaneously display NEXRAD radar and traffic on the HSI map and view a variety of other SiriusXM aviation weather products on the MFD such as lightning, storm cells and more.
Aiding in situational awareness, optional SurfaceWatch runway monitoring technology provides visual and aural cues to help prevent pilots from taking off and landing on a taxiway, on a runway that is too short or on the wrong runway based on performance data entered during preflight. Visual and audible runway distance remaining annunciations are also available, which provides aural callouts beginning at 5,000 feet through 500 feet.
Equipped to meet future airspace modernization initiatives, G1000 NXi equipped-aircraft are rule-compliant to meet FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) requirements. The G1000 NXi also supports the display of various ADS-B In benefits, including traffic and subscription-free weather. FIS-B weather products include: NEXRAD, METARs, TAFs, PIREPs, winds and temperatures aloft, NOTAMs, AIRMETs and SIGMETs. Exclusive traffic features such as Garmin’s patented TargetTrend™ and TerminalTraffic™ further enhance the traffic picture. TargetTrend provides pilots with a more intuitive method of judging target trajectories and closure rates, while TerminalTraffic displays a comprehensive picture of ADS-B-equipped aircraft and ground vehicles throughout the airport environment. These ADS-B In benefits combine to give pilots superior situational awareness tools throughout the terminal and enroute environments.
The G1000 NXi integrated flight deck also supports additional features:
- Display of sectional charts, as well as IFR low/high enroute charts on the MFD.
- COMM frequency identification displays the station ID, as well as frequency type.
- Advanced Doppler weather radar capabilities, including ground clutter suppression and turbulence detection as options.
- NEXRAD weather radar imagery can be overlaid on the moving map and animated on the MFD, as well as the HSI map.
- Vertical Situation Display (VSD) incorporates terrain profile view on the MFD, taking into consideration the active flight plan, altitude constraints and winds aloft.
- Pilots can preview departure and arrival procedures on the MFD prior to loading and activating the procedures.
- Pilots can optionally overlay European Visual Reporting Points (VRPs) on the moving map, as VRPs are standard within the navigation database.
- Aircraft maintenance personnel experience faster system software upgrades and streamlined equipment replacement.
- Three-color terrain shading incorporates green, yellow and red contouring, which depicts the aircraft is 2,000, 1,000 and 100 feet above ground level (AGL) respectively.
Simple path to upgrade or transition from G1000 to G1000 NXi for King Air aircraft
For new installations, the G1000 NXi integrated flight deck is estimated to provide a weight savings of 250 pounds or more in King Air aircraft, allowing additional baggage, passenger and/or fuel load flexibility. New G1000 NXi installations also utilize a new, fully integrated and lightweight air data and attitude heading reference system (ADAHRS), streamlining the upgrade process. King Air owners and operators with an existing G1000 integrated flight deck can easily upgrade to the G1000 NXi with minimal aircraft downtime and disruption of the panel as the displays preserve the same footprint and connector so panel modifications are not required.
The G1000 NXi will be available in February from select Garmin Authorized Dealers. EASA approval is expected later in 2017. New G1000 NXi installations and display upgrades all come with a two-year warranty, which is supported by Garmin’s award-winning avionics product support team.
Textron Aviation stated, shortly after Garmin’s announcement, that its company-owned service center network will offer the next-generation Garmin G1000 NXi integrated flight deck retrofit for fielded Beechcraft King Air 200/300/350 series turboprop aircraft.
For additional information regarding the G1000 NXi upgrade for the King Air, contact Scott Frye at (913) 440-2412 or scott.frye@garmin.com. For additional details, visit: www.garmin.com/kingair.
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