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By Daniel Guevarra |
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February 19, 2010
- Garmin announced the G500H, an all-glass avionics system designed
specifically for the VFR Part 27 helicopter market. The G500H is a
derivative of the G600 and G500 for the fixed-wing market, yet the G500H
has been optimized for rotorcraft and offers features like helicopter
synthetic vision technology, helicopter-specific databases with over
7,000 heliports and nearly 30,000 additional low-altitude obstacles, XM
WX Satellite Weather with NEXRAD, and the ability to display video from
a forward looking infrared (FLIR) camera or other video sources.
“FAA reports have
indicated that the three main areas of operational risks for helicopters
are inadvertent flight into IMC, night operations and controlled flight
into terrain,” said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s vice president of marketing.
“The G500H was designed to proactively address these issues and help
reduce situational risk and the challenges that come from a busier
airspace. We’re serious about safety and we believe our new helicopter
products will help make flying safer.” |
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The bezel framing the G500H’s primary flight display (PFD) and multi-function display (MFD) (10”w x 6.7”h) allows for easy installation into the instrument panel. The G500H system includes a solid state Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) for superior reliability and accuracy. Garmin’s AHRS features rapid alignment while moving, including in-flight dynamic restarts.
The G500H is available in two versions – one with the PFD on the right,
the other version with the PFD on the left – allowing maximum
installation versatility. The PFD screen displays attitude, airspeed,
vertical speed, altitude and course/heading information, and the MFD
shows detailed moving map graphics with the helicopter’s current
position in relation to terrain, chart data, navaids, and flight plan
routings.
The G500H communicates and integrates with Garmin’s other panel mount
products, such as the GNS 430W/530W series. In addition to the intrinsic
benefits of WAAS approaches, Garmin has also developed a special
helicopter navigation database that lets operators easily navigate to
over 7,000 heliports, without having to create user waypoints at those
locations.
The G500H also supports Garmin’s helicopter-specific synthetic vision
technology (HSVT). By adding Garmin’s HSVT to the G500H, the PFD will
display an “out-the-window” view of the surroundings, regardless of the
weather conditions. HSVT seamlessly blends information about the
rotorcraft’s position with topographic databases to create and display
real-time 3D images. Land, water and sky are clearly differentiated with
shading and textures that are similar to the topographical colors found
on the MFD moving map. HSVT alerts pilots of potential ground hazards by
displaying terrain and obstacles which pose a threat to the aircraft. |
Recognizing the
importance of keeping track of personnel and mobile assets, the G500H is
also compatible with Garmin’s new GSR 56 Iridium transceiver, an
affordable worldwide position tracking solution that enables aircraft
location data to be monitored via web-based displays on authorized
base-ops computers. The Iridium network provides seamless global
coverage and enables the GSR 56 to transmit a helicopter’s position and
flight track from anywhere in the world.
Near real-time
weather is also available as an option via XM WX Satellite Weather (
Customers may
interface the G500H with Garmin’s TAS and TCAS I traffic systems, the
GTS 800, GTS 820 and GTS 850, which are optional equipment. The Garmin
traffic systems combine active and passive surveillance data to pinpoint
specific traffic threats. The systems use Garmin’s patent-pending CLEAR
CAS technology and correlates automatic dependent surveillance broadcast
(ADS-B) with radar targets to provide pilots with the most accurate
picture of the sky.
The G500H includes
SafeTaxi, which features detailed diagrams of over 900 airports that
assist pilots while maneuvering in the airport environment. A trial
version of Garmin FliteCharts is included, which allows pilots to
quickly find and view airport diagrams on the MFD.
Pilots may also select the optional ChartView, an electronic
version of Jeppesen’s extensive library of charts and airport diagrams.
The G500H will be
on display for the first time at Heli-Expo, February 21-23, 2010, and
show attendees can view the new system at Garmin’s booth and static
display. In addition, Bell Helicopter will have a
Garmin expects to
receive the FAA’s Supplemental Type Certification (STC) for installation
of the G500H into the |
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