Garmin achieves additional GFC 500 autopilot certifications, including the first light twin aircraft
Certified aircraft now include select Cessna 206 and Piper PA-30/39 models
OLATHE, Kan./March 15, 2022 – Garmin® International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd., today announced it has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certification (STC) for the GFC™ 500 autopilot in additional aircraft to include select Robertson STOL (short takeoff or landing) equipped Cessna 206 models and Piper Twin Comanche PA-30/39 models. The GFC 500 autopilot is intended for light piston aircraft while delivering superior in-flight characteristics, self-monitoring capabilities and minimal maintenance requirements when compared to older generation autopilot systems.
New aircraft models now approved for the GFC 500 autopilot include:
Cessna 206 RSTOL series models F, G & H
Piper Twin Comanche PA-30 models B1 & C1 & PA-391
The GFC 500 autopilot uniquely integrates with Garmin’s GI 275 or G5 electronic flight instruments; 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 contains large dedicated keys and knobs, a control wheel that allows for easy adjustment to aircraft pitch, airspeed and vertical speed, and a Level Mode (LVL) that returns the aircraft to straight-and-level flight with the push of a dedicated button. In addition, with the GFC 500, appropriately-equipped aircraft can also take advantage of Smart Glide™, a tremendous safety tool that helps pilots in an engine power loss emergency by automating tasks and helping to reduce pilot workload.2
The full-featured GFC 500 autopilot provides a long list of existing general aviation aircraft with a simple, lightweight, cost-effective autopilot upgrade path. Incorporating solid state attitude with robust self-monitoring capabilities, the GFC 500 provides superior autopilot performance, greater reliability, and invaluable safety tools that are similar to those featured on the popular GFC 700 autopilot. In addition to traditional autopilot capabilities, such as altitude hold, vertical speed and heading modes, the GFC 500 also includes altitude preselect, VNAV3, underspeed and overspeed protection and more. Pilots can also select, couple and fly various instrument approaches, including GPS, ILS, VOR, LOC and back course approaches when paired with a compatible Garmin GPS navigator.
As a standard feature of the GFC 500, 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 back to a safe flight attitude.
Garmin continues to add additional aircraft models to the growing STC list for the GFC 500 autopilot. 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, visit www.garmin.com/GFC500.
Garmin products and services have revolutionized flight and become essential to the lives of pilots, aircraft owners and operators around the world. A leading provider of solutions to general aviation, business aviation, rotorcraft, advanced air mobility, government and defense, and commercial air carrier customers, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate. Garmin was the 2020 recipient of the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy for Garmin Autoland, the world’s first certified autonomous system that activates during an emergency to control and land an aircraft without human intervention. For more information, visit Garmin’s virtual Newsroom, email our press team, connect with @garminaviation on social media, or follow our adventures at garmin.com/blog.
1- GI 275 ADAHRS source required
2- Smart Glide compatibility requires a GTN Xi navigator; see Garmin.com/SGproducts for more details
3- GTN or GTN Xi series Navigator required
