Garmin announces GFC 500 autopilot certifications for select Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft

OLATHE, Kan./February 13, 2024 – Garmin (NYSE: GRMN) today announced it has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certification (STC) for the GFC^™ 500 digital autopilot in Beechcraft A35 and B35 aircraft. The GFC 500 digital autopilot is intended for light piston aircraft while delivering superior in-flight characteristics, self-monitoring capabilities and minimal maintenance requirements when compared to older generation autopilot systems.

The GFC 500 autopilot uniquely integrates with Garmin’s GI 275 or G5 electronic flight instruments, as well as 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. The autopilot mode controller features large, dedicated keys and knobs, as well as a control wheel that allows for easy adjustment to aircraft pitch, airspeed and vertical speed, as well as a Level Mode (LVL) that returns the aircraft to straight-and-level flight with the push of a dedicated button. In addition, GFC 500-equipped aircraft can take advantage of Garmin Smart Glide^™, a safety-enhancing tool that helps pilots in an engine power loss event by automating certain tasks and helping to reduce pilot workload¹.

The fully featured GFC 500 autopilot provides a long list of existing general aviation aircraft with a simple, lightweight, cost-effective autopilot upgrade path. Incorporating solid state attitude with robust self-monitoring capabilities, the GFC 500 provides superior autopilot performance, greater reliability, and additional safety tools that are similar to those featured on the popular GFC 700 autopilot. 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. Pilots can also fly various coupled instrument approaches, including LPV, GPS, ILS, VOR, and missed 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 the 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 continues to add aircraft models to the growing STC list for the GFC 500 autopilot. To view the most up-to-date aircraft STC list along with certifications 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.

Garmin products and services have revolutionized flight and become essential to the lives of pilots and aircraft owners and operators around the world. A leading provider of solutions to general aviation, business aviation, rotorcraft, advanced air mobility, government and defense, and commercial air carrier customers, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate. Recipient of the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy for Garmin Autoland, Garmin developed the world’s first certified autonomous system that activates during an emergency to control and land an aircraft without human intervention. Visit the Garmin Newsroom, email our media team, connect with @garminaviation on social, or follow our blog.

¹ Smart Glide compatibility requires a GTN Xi navigator; see Garmin.com/SGproducts for more details.

²  GTN or GTN Xi series Navigator required.

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