Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN), the
global leader in satellite navigation, today announced expanded
capabilities for the GTN series touchscreen avionics. The new features
include display support for weather radar, advanced ADS-B capabilities,
worldwide connectivity, cross fill with the GNS 430W/530W series and
more.
“The GTN series were designed with a growth-oriented architecture that
allows for new technologies and expanded capabilities to be accommodated
via software updates,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin’s vice president of
aviation sales and marketing. “Since the GTN’s introduction last year,
we’ve listened to our customers and incorporated more of the features
they have asked for. These new capabilities promise to further enhance
the flying experience by minimizing pilot workload and providing even
greater situational awareness.”
Weather radar
For onboard weather surveillance, the larger-format GTN 750 series
navigators can double as a panel display for Garmin’s GWX 68 or the new
solid-state, Doppler-capable GWX 70 digital weather radars. The
touchscreen platform of the GTN 750 makes weather radar a whole new
experience. Adjusting the tilt or sector scan is as easy as a swipe of
the finger across the display. Pilots can easily overlay the weather
radar right on the moving map page, for increased situational awareness.
ARINC 708 interface support for other popular GA radars is also
optionally available including configurations for the Bendix/King RDR
series ART 2000, as well as the RS-181A and RS-811A sensors used on the
RDS 81/82 series.
Advanced ADS-B Capabilities
When the GTN is paired with a GDL 88 series ADS-B datalink, pilots will
not only be equipped to satisfy the requirements for ADS-B Out, but the
GTN can also support the display of advanced ADS-B traffic features and
subscription-free weather information in U.S. airspace via ADS-B In.
Advanced traffic features include TargetTrend™ relative motion
technology to better display the trend of traffic relative to the
aircraft’s direction of flight. This technology allows the pilot to more
easily understand other potential converging aircraft. SURF technology
is also available, which supports the display of ADS-B-equipped surface
targets on Garmin SafeTaxi® airport diagrams including taxiing aircraft
and ground vehicles. When there are several traffic targets in an area,
the GTN will declutter the display by grouping the targets and showing
only the one that is the highest priority. The GTN also allows the pilot
to touch any target on the display to view more detailed information
including closure rate and ground speed.
Worldwide Connectivity
The GTN can now display worldwide weather that informs pilots of METARs,
TAFs and winds aloft around the globe, with an optional GSR 56
transceiver. Radar and satellite imagery are also available through this
service for the United States, Southern Canada, Western Europe and
Australia. In addition, the GTN can support voice and data services that
let the pilot make worldwide phone calls, send text messages and send
email via SMS from the airplane’s cockpit using the GTN as the dialing
and messaging interface.
GTN/GNS Cross Fill
For those who have both a GTN and a WAAS GNS 430W/530W product in their
cockpit, they can now share information through the new data cross fill
capability, minimizing duplication of data loading efforts. This feature
allows for the transfer of the recognized legs from the GTN’s active
flight plan to the GNS, as well as manual transfer of user waypoints in
both directions between the GTN and GNS.
Telligence™ Voice Command and 3D Audio
The GTN interface now supports Telligence Voice Command and 3D Audio
capabilities, enabled by the GMA 35 remote audio panel. Telligence,
Garmin’s exclusive speech recognition technology, allows the pilot to
activate audio panel functions in response to spoken commands. For
example, by simply pressing a push-to-command button on the yoke and
saying “Comm One,” the pilot can select the radio, without lifting a
finger from the controls. With 3D Audio, incoming audio is spatially
separated to mimic the way people process sounds and conversations. This
allows pilots to focus their listening attention on a single talker
among a mixture of other conversations and background noises.
Geo-referenced FliteCharts®
The GTN 750 series comes with a trial version of Garmin FliteCharts
(U.S. only) that allow the pilot to quickly view departure procedures,
Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARs), approach plates and airport
diagrams. With the latest GTN software update, Garmin FliteCharts can be
geo-referenced to easily track the pilot’s position with a dynamic
aircraft symbol overlaid right on the moving map and the dedicated
charts page.
The latest GTN software release also incorporates several other
improvements such as the ability to graphically edit direct-to legs, the
ability to sort airway exit points geographically, bigger, bolder, and
relevant airspace with the Smart Airspace feature, the ability to toggle
off and on certain European airspaces and TCAD traffic display.
For current GTN owners, the free software upgrade will be available in
Q4 2012 from Garmin Authorized Dealers (installation charges may apply).
An upgrade to GNS version 5.0 software is required for enabling
GNS-specific features. For more information, visit www.garmin.com.
Garmin’s aviation business segment is a leading provider of solutions to
OEM, aftermarket, military and government customers. Garmin’s portfolio
includes navigation, communication, flight control, hazard avoidance,
surveillance, and other products and services that are known for
innovation, reliability, and value.
About Garmin
Garmin International Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN),
the global leader in satellite navigation. Since 1989, this group of
companies has designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation,
communication and information devices and applications – most of which
are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin’s products serve automotive,
mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM
applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its
principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the
United Kingdom. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom
at www.garmin.com/pressroom
or contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200. GTN,
TargetTrend and Telligence are trademarks and Garmin and FliteCharts are
registered trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.
All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service
marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
Notice on Forward-Looking Statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd.
and its business. Such statements are based on management’s current
expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in
this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as
a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting
Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed
by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file
number 0-31983). A copy of such Form 10-K is available at www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html.
No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events, or otherwise.

Source(s) : Garmin International Inc.