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News & Media Many Garmin receivers compatible with new FIS-B products

Many Garmin receivers compatible with new FIS-B products

Others will be able to display DATA by next year

July 12, 2018 By Mike Collins

Garmin International announced July 12 that many of its Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) receivers will be compatible with new Flight Information Services-Broadcast (FIS-B) weather products that should be available across the United States by October.

This Garmin Pilot app on an Apple iPad shows forecast potential icing, one of the FAA's new FIS-B weather products. It provides forecast icing probability and severity every 2,000 feet, from 2,000 feet msl to 24,000 feet msl. Photo courtesy of Garmin International.
This Garmin Pilot app on an Apple iPad shows forecast potential icing, one of the FAA's new FIS-B weather products. It provides forecast icing probability and severity every 2,000 feet, from 2,000 feet msl to 24,000 feet msl. Photo courtesy of Garmin International.

The new FIS-B products—Center Weather Advisories, cloud tops, graphical airmets, forecast icing, lightning strikes, and turbulence—were set to be deployed regionally beginning in late June, and available across the country by October.

ADS-B uses satellites instead of ground-based radar to determine aircraft location, and is a key technology behind the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System. The FAA has mandated installation of ADS-B Out for flights after Jan. 1, 2020, in airspace where a transponder is required today. ADS-B In services, such as FIS-B, are popular with pilots but are not required by the FAA.

“Garmin continues to lead the industry with the most ADS-B solutions flying today and we’re excited to bring these new features and capabilities to our customers,” said Carl Wolf, vice president of aviation marketing and sales. “With only 17 months left to equip for ADS-B Out, customers can take advantage of a Garmin solution that is backed by our well-established lineage in ADS-B, superior product quality, award-winning product support and the most comprehensive dealer network in the industry.”

A number of popular Garmin products are ready to support the new FIS-B products as soon as the ground stations begin to transmit them, allowing them to be displayed through the Garmin Pilot app on Apple mobile devices. Broader Garmin display compatibility is expected later this year and into the first half of 2019. 

The GTX 345, GDL 88, GDL 84, GDL 52, GDL 50, GDL 39 3D, and GDL 39 will be capable of receiving the new products at launch, Garmin said. Compatibility also includes all remote-mount Garmin ADS-B In receivers. These ADS-B In receivers do not require software updates in order to receive the new weather products, the company added, but compatible displays will require a software update.
During the fourth quarter of 2018, Garmin expects to extend compatibility to the G3X Touch flight display for experimental amateur-built and light sport aircraft (EAB/LSA), the aera 660 aviation portable, and the Garmin Pilot app on Android mobile devices.

Software updates for certified Garmin displays that will support the new FIS-B weather products—including the G500 TXi/G600 TXi/G700 TXi flight displays, the GTN 650/750 touchscreen navigators, and the G1000 NXi integrated flight deck—are expected to be available in 2019. 

Additional information will be available on the Garmin website. 

Mike Collins

Mike Collins

Technical Editor
Mike Collins, AOPA technical editor and director of business development, died at age 59 on February 25, 2021. He was an integral part of the AOPA Media team for nearly 30 years, and held many key editorial roles at AOPA Pilot, Flight Training, and AOPA Online. He was a gifted writer, editor, photographer, audio storyteller, and videographer, and was an instrument-rated pilot and drone pilot.
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