– Andrew Andersen
After a long wait, leading avionics manufacturer Garmin finally debuted its Australian flight charts and data service products at Avalon 2019. CASA regulates the provision of aviation data services under CASR Part 175.295, which has proven to be a hurdle for a number of vendors.
Gaining this approval makes Garmin’s recent portable aviation products more useful in this country and provides a competitive alternative source of data and chart updates for the latest IFR panel-mount systems.
Ideal for pilots who switch frequently between aircraft, the Garmin Aera 660 and 796 models may now be regularly updated with Australian NavData, Terrain, SafeTaxi, Airport Directory, FliteCharts, and IFR/VFR Charts databases under a packaged annual subscription from Garmin, which may also be purchased for the Garmin Pilot for iPad app. Charts are sourced from Airservices Australia and provide a portable, geo-referenced moving-map display.
The Aera 796 and Garmin Pilot can now usefully serve as an in-flight Electronic Flight Bag (EFB), enhancing the situational awareness of any pilot.
Garmin has also released new Australian data update and subscription services for Garmin G1000 integrated flight deck systems, as well as GTN and G500/600 panel-mount IFR navigation and flight display systems.
Until now, the only provider of approved navigation database and chart updates for IFR panel-mount Garmin avionics in Australia has been Jeppesen. For the first time, Garmin’s SafeTaxi charts will be available to enhance safety on the ground near runways and holding points. These are included in new service bundles, which also provide navigation database, DAP charts, base-map and terrain database updates. Updates, which may also be purchased singularly, can be downloaded wirelessly in a Flight Stream 510-equipped aircraft with Database Concierge, part of the Garmin Pilot app.
Updates can also be downloaded and applied with a computer, browser and SD data card.
For more information, go to https://fly.garmin.com/fly-garmin