Garmin autopilot certified for Cessna 172s and 175s, Commanders

Garmin has received FAA Supplemental Type Certification (STC) for the GFC 500 autopilot in additional aircraft, including the Commander 112 and 112A, as well as Cessna 172A, 172B, 172C, 175A, 175B, and 175C.

The GFC 500 autopilot 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,” according to Garmin officials.

The autopilot mode controller contains dedicated keys and knobs, a control wheel that allows for adjustments to 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, company officials noted.

GFC 500-equipped aircraft also can take advantage of Smart Glide, a safety tool that helps pilots in an engine power loss event by automating certain tasks and helping to reduce pilot workload, Garmin officials said. Smart Glide compatibility requires a GTN Xi navigator and is available for GFC 500-equipped aircraft with a GI 275, company officials added.

In addition to traditional autopilot capabilities, such as altitude hold, vertical speed, and heading modes, the GFC 500 also includes altitude preselect, VNAV2, underspeed and overspeed protection, and more, company officials said. 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 a 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 to a safe flight attitude, Garmin officials explained.

Garmin continues to add aircraft models to the STC list for the GFC 500 autopilot. To view the most up-to-date aircraft STC list, to view certifications that are expected in the next 12 months, or to express interest in a specific aircraft make/model, go to Garmin.com/GFC500.