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Garmin Pilot app adds 3-D Synthetic Vision

By General Aviation News Staff · February 24, 2014 ·

 

Garmin has released an updated version of the Garmin Pilot application for the iPad and iPhone featuring synthetic vision as an option for premium subscribers.

3D Vision incorporates GPS-derived airspeed, altitude, and vertical speed overlaid on a 3D topographic landscape. 

“With the addition of synthetic vision, Garmin Pilot takes a big step forward by offering pilots great situational awareness in all weather conditions, day or night,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin’s vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “When combined with the GDL 39 3D, attitude information as well as ADS‑B traffic and weather are all conveniently accessible within one application, further demonstrating our commitment to bringing safety enhancements to all pilots.”

Garmin Pilot creates a virtual topographic landscape. Instead of a blue-over-brown display, pilots will see an in-depth perspective view of realistic terrain features rising into the sky. Garmin Pilot displays a clear 3D depiction of ground and water features, as well as obstacles, traffic, and the runway environment. Adding to situational awareness, GPS-derived airspeed, altitude, and vertical speed are superimposed. Offering course information when an active flight plan is present, a horizontal situation indicator (HSI) is also overlaid on the 3D display. Additionally, estimated time enroute (ETE), distance information, and the active leg of a flight plan are displayed just below the HSI, company officials note.

Pitch and roll information is available on the synthetic vision page when pilots use the GDL 39 3D in conjunction with Garmin Pilot. Aircraft attitude information is also displayed on the aircraft panel page, enabling pilots to view weather and traffic information alongside rich, interactive moving map information, simultaneously.

When Garmin Pilot is paired with the GDL 39 3D additional benefits include Flight Information Service-Broadcast (FIS-B) subscription-free weather, which offers NEXRAD imagery, METARs, TAFs, and more. Traffic Information Service-Broadcast (TIS-B) also helps pilots gain a better understanding of the traffic picture around them.

The GDL 39 3D features TargetTrend relative motion tracking, which offers pilots a more intuitive way of judging target trajectories and closure rates in dense traffic environments. SURF technology supports the display of ADS-B-equipped surface targets on the moving map page, which offers pilots better situational awareness on runway and taxiway surfaces. The GDL 39 3D supplies WAAS GPS data to Bluetooth compatible devices.

The latest version of Garmin Pilot is available immediately as a free update to existing iOS Garmin Pilot customers with a premium subscription. For new customers, Garmin Pilot 6.1 is available in the Apple App Store as a free download for the first 30 days. After the 30-day trial period, pilots may upgrade to an annual subscription of Garmin Pilot starting at $74.99. With the purchase of a GDL 39 3D, SVX is included in all Garmin Pilot subscriptions.

For more information: Garmin.com

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