Avionics systems can be so complex, they come with a user manual the size of an airplane pilot’s operating handbook. Learning what buttons to push and in what order can be frustrating in an aircraft or simulator with other tasks happening simultaneously.
To help pilots focus on learning the avionics, Garmin on Nov. 12 launched an interactive online training course for the G5000 integrated flight deck.
“As flight decks continue to become more sophisticated and offer additional features and capabilities, the desire for off-aircraft training outside of a traditional classroom setting is in high demand,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin vice president of marketing and sales, in the product announcement.
The course, accessible by computer, tablet, or smartphone, allows users to watch a demonstration of a task, then walk through a guided interaction session with on-screen prompts, and then try it solo without the prompts.
Pilots taking the course can track their progress, bookmark certain areas, and take notes inside the course. Training providers can monitor their students’ progress. The course also provides reports and completion certificates for those enrolled.
The course costs $699 and comes as a 180-day subscription. Garmin says the course is updated periodically to keep the material current.
Garmin plans to expand its eLearning Training courses to additional products in the future, a company spokeswoman told AOPA. The company already offers training on the GTN/G500/G600 series, which is hosted by a Garmin pilot trainer at the company’s headquarters in Olathe, Kan. That course will continue in 2014.
