WICHITA – Textron Aviation is bringing enhanced flight deck capabilities to new production Cessna Caravan and Grand Caravan EX turboprops.
Features include new standard and optional equipment as part of Garmin’s G1000 NXi next-generation integrated flight deck, which provides pilots with greater control and connectivity in the cockpit, according to Cessna officials.
Options new to the Caravan series include Garmin’s Enhanced Automatic Flight Control System (E-AFCS) with automated features designed to help pilots retain an optimal envelope, company officials add.
The added features include Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP), Underspeed Protection (USP), Emergency Descent Mode (EDM), Coupled Go-Around, and an auto-level function.
Other options include Garmin’s GSR 56 Iridium Satellite Data Transceiver Link, which provides near worldwide access to downlink weather services, as well as satellite voice communication and text message capabilities.
Flight Stream 510 – now a standard feature in the Caravan cockpit – permits two-way flight plan transfers, and allows pilots to stream traffic, weather, and GPS information from the flight deck to select portable and mobile devices where local regulations permit, according to company officials.
New standard equipment also includes dual audio panels with 3D audio capabilities that spatially distribute audio sources and simulate how the human ear naturally hears and processes directional sources, officials report.
This feature allows pilots to focus their attention on a preferred audio source and enhances situational awareness by reducing confusion or delayed response time that can occur when hearing multiple audio sources simultaneously, Cessna officials note.
The features will be available on all 2019 Cessna Caravan and Grand Caravan EX turboprops.
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Perhaps Garmin is having a thought in roughly the right direction, thinking toward the future of ATS, but in fact, this is nothing more than a giant step in exactly the wrong direction, with the GSR56 and the G1000 NXi. These systems are already obsolete and ineffective compared to any modern production transport jet with RNP .1 capability, GLS, and FANS1/A data link capability. Accordingly, these new Caravan systems are little more than expensive eye-candy, that will have no useful place in solving the future global ATS systems capacity, capability, efficiency, or lowered cost requirements. With 3,000,000 drones approaching, increased military and air transport airspace requirements, and even the special airspace efficiency needs of new types of vehicles (electric to supersonic to space access), these new Garmin systems are already decades obsolete. Sad.