Garmin helicopter touch-screen flight display certified

The flight display makes possible an expanded array of panel possibilities, and opens a streamlined upgrade path for helicopters already equipped with the original G500H flight display, Garmin said in a Jan. 3 news release.

Together with a new software version of Garmin’s GTN 650/750 series navigators that have been approved for helicopters, the combination offers “seamless touchscreen continuity in the cockpit, bringing a new level of reliability, adaptability and affordability to helicopter operations,” it said.

“The growth-oriented G500H TXi boasts innovative features with vibrant graphical displays and greater situational awareness tools, and when paired with the GTN, pilots receive a harmonious avionics suite that adds even more capability in the cockpit,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin vice president of aviation sales and marketing.

The G500H TXi is available in a 10.6-inch touch-controlled display, and in two versions of seven-inch touch-controlled displays in either portrait or landscape orientations.

The displays offer concentric knobs for added versatility and convenience, and the 10.6-inch G500H TXi is available in a horizontal format that can accommodate primary flight display information and a multifunction display simultaneously, Garmin said.

According to the announcement, the G500H TXi incorporates a clean-sheet touch-screen design with modern processors that support improved map and chart rendering, faster panning, and contemporary single-finger zoom and pinch-to-zoom gestures. For helicopters equipped with the original G500H series flight display, full G500H TXi compatibility with existing system sensors makes for an easy, cost-effective upgrade path. For a limited time, Garmin is offering a display upgrade program.

The G500H TXi is equipped with hazard avoidance features including five-color Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System (HTAWS), WireAware wire-strike avoidance technology, and optional Garmin HSVT 3D synthetic vision. A helicopter-specific obstacle database contains more than 200,000 additional low-altitude obstacles. An expanded version offers more than 700,000 miles of power line data.

Connext cockpit connectivity with Flight Stream 510 and added Database Concierge is available as an option with the G500H TXi.

The G500H TXi comes with a two-year warranty and is available immediately. The GTN 650/750 software upgrade is also available immediately from Garmin authorized dealers.

For more information, visit Garmin’s website or contact a local Garmin authorized dealer.