Garmin adds visual approach guidance to GTN 650/750

Visual approach guidance "provides advisory vertical guidance in visual flight conditions based on a published glide path angle or a three-degree glideslope from the threshold of the runway, while considering terrain and obstacle clearance," Garmin said in a news release.

Aircraft owners who have certain third-party TCAS II/ACAS II systems can combine a GTN 650/750 navigator with a GTX 3000 Mode-S ES transponder to obtain display and control capability plus a path to Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) compliance and WAAS/LPV approaches, Garmin said. "Traffic information is overlaid on the moving map, as well as the dedicated traffic page," the company said.

Pilots flying into airports not served by WAAS/SBAS can get advisory vertical guidance on the GTN 650/750 navigator while flying LNAV approaches. Pilots can take advantage of the advisory glideslope to fly a stabilized descent more easily during an LNAV approach, Garmin said.

The updated software for the GTN 650/750 is expected to be available in May.

G3X Touch portrait display

The G3X Touch seven-inch portrait display will be available for experimental and light sport aircraft later in 2017, Garmin said. The portrait display joins the 10.6-inch and seven-inch landscape displays for the G3X Touch series and includes the same features. It can be used as a primary flight display or a multifunction display when combined with multiple G3X Touch displays.

Integration options include the display of engine indication system information, ADS-B traffic and weather, SiriusXM aviation weather, transponder, remote communications radio, audio panel, autopilot, and more, the company said.

Aircraft owners can easily upgrade a G3X system to G3X Touch using the existing sensors and pin-compatible connectors, Garmin said. A single G3X Touch display starts at $2,995.

New audio panel

The GMA 345 and GMA 342 all-digital audio panels will be available in May for fixed-wing aircraft, Garmin said.

The GMA 345 includes Bluetooth audio connectivity and a USB charging port. The GMA 342 has a dedicated audio jack that enables pilots to connect a mobile device directly to the audio panel, the company said. Pilots can make or receive phone calls, stream audio entertainment, or connect wirelessly to select Garmin HD cameras, such as the VIRB Ultra 30, or some third-party cameras.

The 345 and 342 are pin-and-rack compatible and slide-in replaceable with the Garmin 340 and select third-party audio panels, Garmin said.

The GMA 345 and GMA 342 are expected to retail for $1,895 and $1,595, respectively. A new Satisfaction Guarantee Program will be made available to customers who purchase a GMA 345 or GMA 342 to replace an existing GMA 340 or compatible third-party audio panel. If upon completion of the initial test flight the customer is not satisfied with the new audio panel, he or she may choose to have the old audio panel reinstalled and receive a complete refund of the purchase price.