Hand touching autopilot controller on instrument panel
Aviation

Approved Aircraft List Expanded for Autopilots

July 15, 2020

Our aviation team continues to roll out autopilot approvals for a variety of aircraft for the GFC 500 and GFC 600 autopilots. Several popular aircraft such as the Bonanza B36TC, Cessna T210, Cessna 421C and Piper PA-46 are among the latest additions to a growing list of aircraft approvals, allowing these aircraft owners to experience the superior benefits of a modern Garmin autopilot.

In just three years, we have completed 42 Supplemental Type Certifications (STC) on over 30 popular aircraft, spanning nearly 200 aircraft models between both autopilots, with more aircraft approvals in progress and many more to follow. Each aircraft undergoes a comprehensive flight test program at our flight operations facility, which includes flight testing at a variety of aircraft weight and center of gravity (CG) limits, as well as a full range of altitude and airspeed tests. In addition to standard autopilot functions, features such as underspeed and overspeed protection, Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP™), vertical navigation and take-off and go-around modes are also thoroughly evaluated for each individual aircraft. These complex and rigorous certification processes demonstrate our commitment to bringing highly capable, state-of-the-art autopilots to our customers.

“As Garmin increasingly expands its portfolio of aircraft approvals, demand for the GFC 500 and GFC 600 continues to achieve significant growth,” said Carl Wolf, vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “We are humbled by the popularity of these game-changing autopilots as they have redefined the standard of what aircraft owners should expect from an autopilot and based on the overwhelming demand – our customers agree.”

New aircraft models approved for the GFC 500 autopilot include:

New aircraft models approved for the GFC 600 autopilot include:

The full-featured GFC 500 and GFC 600 autopilots provide thousands of existing general aviation aircraft with a simple, light-weight, cost-effective autopilot upgrade path. The GFC 500 and GFC 600 incorporate a solid state attitude source with robust self-monitoring capabilities to provide superior autopilot performance, greater reliability and safety benefits that are similar to the popular Garmin GFC 700 autopilot used in our integrated flight decks. In addition to traditional autopilot capabilities such as altitude hold, vertical speed and heading modes, the GFC 500 and GFC 600 also include altitude preselect, VNAV1, Level Mode, underspeed and overspeed protection and more. Pilots can also select, couple to and fly various instrument approaches, including GPS, ILS, VOR, LOC and back course approaches when paired with a compatible GPS navigator.

GMC 507 mode controller
Mode controller for GFC 500 autopilot.

As a standard feature on both the GFC 500 and GFC 600 autopilots, pilots receive Garmin Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP), which works to assist the pilot in maintaining the aircraft in a stable flight condition. ESP functions independently of the autopilot and works in the background to help pilots avoid inadvertent flight attitudes or bank angles and provides airspeed protection while the pilot is hand-flying the aircraft.

The GFC 500 autopilot uniquely integrates with the G5 or GI 275 electronic flight instruments for attitude reference. The G500 TXi & G600 TXi flight displays can also be paired with the GFC 500 and the G5 or GI 275 flight instruments, allowing flight director and autopilot modes to be seamlessly integrated on a larger format display. Additionally, GFC 500 and G5 can be used in cooperation with the G3X™ Touch and the G500/G600 flight displays.

For customers who already have a G5 or GI 275 electronic flight instrument, the GFC 500 starts at a suggested retail price of $6,9952 for select aircraft with a 2-axis autopilot. Select aircraft with the GFC 600 autopilot start at a suggested retail price of $19,9952 for a 2-axis autopilot with electric pitch trim.

GFC 600 autopilot mode controller
Garmin GFC 600 retrofit autopilot mode controller.

We continue to add additional aircraft models to the growing STC list for the GFC 500 and GFC 600 autopilots. To view the most up-to-date aircraft STC list, to view certification programs that are expected to begin in the next 12-months, or to express interest in a specific aircraft make/model, visit: www.garmin.com/GFC500 or www.garmin.com/GFC600.

Aircraft that are currently certified for the GFC 600 and GFC 500 autopilot are as follows:

GFC 500

GFC 600

During the week of AirVenture 2020, we will be hosting a series of free educational webinars and product demonstrations, and feature unique opportunities that will bring the Garmin exhibit experience direct to our customers. Check out the full line-up of virtual AirVenture Oshkosh events at www.garmin.com/OSH2020.

1. GTN series or GTN Xi series navigator required

2. Installation not included

*Certain serial numbers excluded, see authorized Garmin installation center for details