Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the
global leader in satellite navigation, announced the delivery of the
first DAHER-SOCATA TBM 700 upgraded with the G1000 integrated flight
deck. The first delivery went to the French Ministry of Defense and is
part of a contract to upgrade 27 TBM 700 aircraft in service with the
French military.
"We are proud to expand our line-up of G1000 retrofit platforms to
include the TBM 700 and honored by the French MoD’s decision to upgrade
their fleet of TBM 700s,” said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s vice president of
marketing. "G1000 retrofit programs have been well received because they
bring leading-edge capabilities to older cockpits. We know the TBM 700
operators that choose to upgrade to G1000 will appreciate the advantages
of flying behind a fully integrated system with world class situational
awareness tools and capabilities.”
"We are thrilled to work with the French Ministry of Defense on the
modernization of their TBM 700 fleet, which is made up of A and B
models,” said Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice president of the
DAHER-SOCATA airplane division. "This upgrade gives them the most
up-to-date technology and features while still allowing them to benefit
from the range, speed and economical operating costs of the TBM 700.”
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has approved a Supplemental
Type Certificate (STC) for the installation, and the STC has received
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) validation.
The G1000 installation on the TBM 700 has a large 15-inch multi-function
display (MFD) and two 10.4-inch primary flight displays (PFD). It also
includes Garmin’s GFC 700 three-axis, fully digital, dual channel,
automatic flight control system (AFCS). The GFC 700 includes features
you would expect in this class of aircraft such as coupled SBAS
(EGNOS/WAAS) LNAV/VNAV and LPV approaches.
Also available to TBM 700 operators is Garmin’s synthetic vision
technology (SVT™) that presents a 3D depiction of terrain, obstacles,
traffic and the runway environment on the G1000’s PFD so that the image
replicates what pilots would see outside the cockpit on a clear day. SVT
also includes pathways (or Highway-In-The-Sky) that are depicted as 3D
"flying rectangles” and help pilots stay on course when flying en route
legs, VNAV legs, GPS/WAAS vertical approach procedures, ILS approach
procedures, and arrival and departure procedures.
The G1000 avionics suite has features such as an FMS with SBAS approach
capabilities, Class-B terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS), dual
integrated solid-state attitude and heading reference systems (AHRS),
and dual integrated digital air data computers. Other optional features
include Garmin ChartView powered by Jeppesen, XM WX Satellite Weather™
with a GDL 69 series datalink receiver and global connectivity with
worldwide weather and voice communication using Garmin’s GSR 56 Iridium
transceiver.
The TBM 700 marks the fifth aircraft model that is approved for the
G1000 field upgrade. Others include the Cessna CitationJet and the
Beechcraft King Air C90, 200 and B200. The King Air 300/350 models are
also expected to receive certification later this year. TBM 700
installations are performed through DAHER-SOCATA and their authorized
facilities, and owners interested in this cockpit upgrade should contact
DAHER-SOCATA.
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. Garmin,
G1000, FliteCharts and SafeTaxi are registered trademarks, and SVT is a
trademark 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 25, 2010, 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.
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statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin
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