Garmin is pleased to introduce Smart Glide, a revolutionary safety tool that helps the pilot in loss of engine power emergencies by automating tasks to reduce pilot workload.
Smart Glide joins the Collier Trophy winning Garmin Autoland as a part of the Autonomí™ family. In the event of the loss of engine power in a single-engine aircraft, a pilot faces the urgent, workload-intensive job of maneuvering the aircraft from its current position to a suitable airport. Through compatible avionics, such as GTN™ Xi series navigators, Smart Glide provides assistance to the pilot by recommending a suitable airport if estimated to be within glide range, as well as providing critical information to the pilot and adjusting select avionics settings. When paired with a compatible Garmin autopilot, Smart Glide can automatically engage the autopilot and pitch for the aircraft’s best glide speed while simultaneously navigating the aircraft within the vicinity of the recommended airport (if available) so the pilot can execute an approach and landing.

Smart Glide Activation and Airport Selection
In the event of engine power loss in flight, pilots can quickly activate Smart Glide using an optional dedicated Smart Glide button that can be installed via a discrete input, or by holding the Direct-to button for two seconds to initiate activation. If the discrete Smart Glide switch is installed, Smart Glide will not be able to be activated via the direct-to long press.

Once activated, Smart Glide recommends an airport estimated to be within glide range
and automatically creates a direct-to route. In the event the system estimates there is
not an airport within glide range, Smart Glide provides an aural and visual alert to the pilot, while continuing to search for an airport. Smart Glide considers several factors when choosing the recommended airport within glide range including runway length and condition; proximity; terrain; and available weather from sources such as FIS-B, Garmin Connext Weather, or SiriusXM weather, in addition to current measured winds calculated by the primary flight display (PFD). If the aircraft is equipped with a GTX 345/GTX 345R transponder or a GNX™ 375 acting as a transponder, or a GSR 56 / GDL 69/ GDL 69A with an appropriate weather subscription, Smart Glide will even consider VFR/IFR conditions when recommending the most suitable airport. Alternate airports within glide range can be selected if the pilot desires.

When Smart Glide has been activated, the system will alert the pilot with an aural message stating that Smart Glide is active, while also providing a quick reference to the selected airport within glide range in both bearing and distance to enhance situational awareness. In addition, Smart Glide provides automated adjustment of select avionics settings including changing the primary COM standby to the airport CTAF or tower and automatically switching the CDI to GPS mode. If the aircraft is appropriately equipped and configured with a compatible Garmin transponder, Smart Glide also provides pilots with a
shortcut to tune the transponder to squawk the 7700 emergency code. If the aircraft is equipped with a compatible Garmin autopilot, Smart Glide activation will also automatically engage the autopilot to pitch for the best glide airspeed and activate GPS
mode to enable navigation to the recommended airport. When equipped with a compatible Garmin autopilot, in the event the system estimates there is not an airport within glide range, the aircraft will automatically pitch for configured best glide speed.

Access Critical Information
Using the Smart Glide Page and the Map Page of the GTN Xi,pilots can easily access critical Smart Glide information when they need it most and better prepare for a landing at a potentially unfamiliar airport. The Smart Glide Page displays estimated glide speed based on the specific aircraft, airport name, an alternate airport list, arrival above ground level (AGL) altitude, longest runway information including wind components if available, as well as a Smart Glide alert banner to keep the pilot notified of glide status and any pertinent instructions. The Map Page is another useful resource for pilots during a Smart Glide activation. The Glide Range Ring depicted on the Map Page shows available airports within glide range and dynamically adjusts based on winds and terrain. The Map Page displays current aircraft AGL altitude, as well as estimated AGL altitude upon arrival, bearing, and distance to the airport, while decluttering the map.

Approach and Landing
When the aircraft is within four nautical miles from the recommended airport, Smart Glide will alert the pilot that they are approaching the airport environment with both an aural alert and visual banner. Within two miles of the airport, audible airport position alerts and a flashing red alert displayed on the GTN Xi will advise the pilot to resume control and begin maneuvering for a safe landing. In the event of an off-airport landing, Smart Glide provides audible AGL altitude alerts to help ensure the pilot is aware of the altitude while maintaining their focus on landing locations.

Smart Glide Support with a Variety of Garmin Systems
In certified aircraft, Smart Glide will become available with a GTN Xi series navigator paired with a compatible Garmin flight display including the G500 TXi™/G600 TXi, GI 275 electronic flight instrument, the G3X Touch™, or G5 electronic flight instrument, with others to be added later. Compatible Garmin autopilots such as GFC 500 or GFC 600 can be automatically engaged when Smart Glide is activated. Please note that initial Smart Glide software interface with a GFC 500 or GFC 600 works with GI 275 and TXi installations only. G5 configuration compatibility is expected in Q4 of 2021. For aircraft without a compatible Garmin autopilot, Smart Glide will still provide critical information and features to help manage engine emergencies and help to reduce pilot workload. Further, experimental aircraft with G3X Touch and a G3X autopilot can also enable Smart Glide technology when appropriately equipped.

Smart Glide is expected to be available as a software upgrade through Maxcraft Avionics starting in August 2021.

Need to know more about this amazing product?  Call us or visit our team at Maxcraft Avionics!

Maxcraft Avionics is a leader in airplane and helicopter avionic system upgrades, including installation of everything from basic VHF Radios and flight instruments, all the way to sophisticated GPS, TCAS, EFIS, and glass cockpit systems. We have the largest avionics facility in Canada and over 20,000 unique part numbers in our inventory to repair your aircraft or upgrade your cockpit.

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Call or visit our team at Maxcraft Avionics for more information.

Maxcraft Avionics is a leader in airplane and helicopter avionic system upgrades, including installation of everything from basic VHF Radios and flight instruments, all the way to sophisticated GPS, TCAS, EFIS, and glass cockpit systems. We have the largest avionics facility in Canada and over 20,000 unique part numbers in our inventory to repair your aircraft or upgrade your cockpit.

Garmin announces first turbofan certification for GFC 600 digital autopilot

Maxcraft is proudly announcing the FAA STC approval for the GFC 600 digital autopilot in select Cessna Citation Jet 525 models from Garmin. The first jet certification for this popular autopilot solution.

Read from Garmin about what this STC can offer:

The GFC 600 digital autopilot delivers superior in-flight characteristics and new operational capabilities such as autopilot-coupled Vertical Navigation (VNAV) descent, auto Course Deviation Indicator (CDI) switching, fully coupled go-around capability and much more.

“We are thrilled to announce the first jet aircraft approval for the GFC 600 digital autopilot, providing these turbofan aircraft with a modern and advanced autopilot upgrade and further simplifying single-pilot operations,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “The GFC 600 combines our state-of-the-art flight control capabilities with hardened smart servos specifically tailored to the demands of turbofan aircraft. With this upgrade, it is easier than ever for CJ owners and operators to get the most out of their aircraft.”

For Cessna CitationJet owners and operators, the GFC 600 digital autopilot will be installed as part of a complete package that requires single or dual G600 TXi 10.6” flight display(s), dual GTN or GTN Xi Series navigators, and a GI 275 electronic flight instrument configured as a standby flight instrument. With this installation, the system offers new operational capabilities and features including autopilot-coupled VNAV descents, automatic GPS-to-LOC switching during ILS/LOC approaches, fully coupled missed approaches and supports Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM) operations, among other features. Further, the installation of the GFC 600 digital autopilot also removes the requirement to retain the power inverter driving the legacy autopilot, aiding in weight savings. Optional upgrades include a dedicated PFD controller, audio panel, ADS-B transponder, Iridium datalink, weather radar, datalink SiriusXM weather, and Garmin Connext connectivity via the Flight Stream 510 wireless gateway.

To optimize selection and control of GFC 600 modes, a compact self-contained autopilot controller incorporates backlit keys and a bright, sunlight readable display that depicts autopilot status and mode selection. An intuitive built-in control wheel also provides convenient adjustment of aircraft pitch, airspeed and vertical speed modes. The GFC 600 also features a dedicated level mode (LVL) button, an active safety-enhancing feature that gives the pilot a single touch autopilot-engage button to command the aircraft to roll wings level and pitch to a level attitude, if momentarily distracted or disoriented.

The GFC 600 offers environmentally hardened autopilot servos designed for harsh operating conditions. Its brushless DC motors offer improved performance and reduce maintenance requirements when compared to decades-old servo designs on the market today. In addition, these smart servos are optimized specifically for turbine operations by offering broader speed scheduling in addition to more torque to help better command and respond to control demands required of turbine aircraft.

As a standard feature, pilots receive Garmin Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP^™) with the
GFC 600 digital autopilot, 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 when the pilot is hand-flying the aircraft to help avoid inadvertent flight attitudes or bank angles and provides airspeed protection.

Additional capabilities of the GFC 600 include:

• Traditional autopilot functions with modern capability such as altitude pre-select² and indicated airspeed hold mode
• Select, couple to, and fly various instrument approaches, including GPS, ILS, VOR, LOC and back course approaches³
• Built-in GPS roll steering capability eliminates the need for external roll steering converters, allowing for smoother navigation tracking
• Underspeed protection helps prevent the aircraft from entering a stall condition
• Overspeed protection helps prevent the aircraft from exceeding aircraft maximum speed (V_NE)
• Yaw Damping (YD) mode minimizes yawing oscillations while also helping to maintain coordinated flight by keeping the slip/skid indicator centered
• Flight Director command bars are displayed on the G600 TXi flight display
• Fly coupled ‘go-arounds’ during missed approach sequencing with a remotely installed go-around button that commands the Flight Director to display the appropriate pitch attitude required for the missed approach procedure and activates a loaded missed approach when paired with a GTN 650/750 or GTN 650/750 Xi navigator
• Pitch-trim servo provides automatic trim and manual electric trim with improved speed scheduling
• Control wheel steering allows the pilot to adjust pitch, roll, altitude hold, vertical speed or airspeed references using the control yoke while the autopilot is engaged

The GFC 600 digital autopilot for the Cessna CitationJet is available immediately through authorized Garmin dealers. To view the most up-to-date aircraft STC list, to view certifications that are expected to begin in the next 12-months, or to express interest in a specific aircraft make/model for the GFC 600, visit www.garmin.com/GFC600. For additional information, visit: www.garmin.com/aviation.

Don’t hesitate to call or visit our team at Maxcraft for more information.

Maxcraft Avionics is a leader in airplane and helicopter avionic system upgrades, including installation of everything from basic VHF Radios and flight instruments, all the way to sophisticated GPS, TCAS, EFIS, and glass cockpit systems. We have the largest avionics facility in Canada and over 20,000 unique part numbers in our inventory to repair your aircraft or upgrade your cockpit.