Garmin has introduced the GTN 650 and GTN 750 series. The panel-mount units are certified and approved for installation in hundreds of makes and models of general aviation aircraft.
The GTN 650 and GTN 750 feature new capabilities for GPS/NAV/COM systems like touchscreen operation, graphical flight planning with victor airways and high-altitude jet routes, remote transponder, remote audio control (750 series only), SafeTaxi and electronic chart capabilities (750 series only), according to company officials.
“As the successors to the very popular GNS 430W and 530W, the GTN 650 and 750 have big shoes to fill. We’re confident that the GTN series will set a new standard on what avionics for general aviation aircraft should be, just as the GNS 430 and 530 did when they were announced in 1998,” said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s vice president of marketing. “The GTN 650 and 750 are the first touchscreen avionics certified for general aviation aircraft. Although some may think the touchscreen operation is the most unique feature of these systems, we believe the interface and expansive new capabilities are even more innovative.”
The most notable difference between the GTN 650 and 750 is the screen size. The GTN 650 has the same exterior footprint as the GNS 430W, but has a 4.9-inch screen that has 53% more screen area than the GNS 430W. The GTN 750’s 6.9-inch screen has 98% more screen area than the GNS 530W, which makes it possible to view an entire chart via Garmin FliteCharts and ChartView, as well as display integrated audio and intercom functions (with the new optional GMA 35 remote mount audio processor). In addition, both units display a higher resolution picture that has more than five times more pixels than the GNS 430W and 530W.
The touchscreen GTN 650 and 750 both feature a shallow menu structure, desktop-like menu interface with intuitive icons, audio and visual feedback, and animation so that pilots know exactly how the systems are responding to their input, Kelley noted.
Recognizing that hand stabilization will help make it even easier to enter data, both units have a finger anchoring bezel around the side of the display and fingerboard at the bottom of the screen. For those who prefer traditional data entry via buttons and knobs, the GTN systems have a dual concentric knob for data entry, volume/squelch knob, “home” button and “direct to” button so that pilots can do all the basic fundamentals – like establish a route and change COM frequencies – without using the touchscreen. With the home key, pilots are seldom more than two taps away from all primary pages and functions.
The GTN series offers graphical flight planning capability (patent pending) so that pilots can edit an active flight plan route on the map and enter a new waypoint or modify the sequence by tapping or dragging their finger on the screen. Victor airways and high-altitude jet routes can be overlaid on the moving map, and airway segments can be selected onscreen for instant entry into a flight plan. The system has a “rubber band” feature that lets pilots select a flight plan leg on the screen and then alter it to accommodate a deviation or ATC amendment. In addition, pilots can pan across the map display by swiping their finger across the screen.
A built-in terrain elevation database shows color-coded alerts when potential terrain conflicts are ahead. Full Class B TAWS alerting is also available as an option. The SBAS/WAAS equipped GTN 650 and 750 let pilots fly GPS-guided LPV glidepath approaches down to ILS-comparable minimums.
The GTN 650 and GTN 750 received FAA TSO authorization in March and are STC approved on most Part 23 fixed wing aircraft. The first units are now shipping. For more information: Garmin.com
