Continuing education

Advances in navigation and autopilots can open up new possibilities for adventure, but like most things in aviation, there is a learning curve to becoming proficient at using these new-to-you technologies.

So, when Garmin offered to outfit the AOPA Sweepstakes Cessna 182 with its suite of avionics, the company also offered to host the caretakers of the sweeps, Alicia Herron and me, at its two-day GTN/TXi flight display training course at Garmin headquarters in Olathe, Kansas.

The scenario-based training course gives pilots of all levels an in-depth training experience that focuses on flight planning, navigation, and instrument procedures.

This isn’t just a fly by the seat of your pants casual class. Garmin is serious about education and it shows. Weeks before our trip, Garmin sent out instructions for the pre-course learning module, a series of videos and slides to review before we showed up for class.

The morning we arrived, my classmates and I were greeted by the smell of coffee, pastries, and fruit. Although we weren’t in a real cockpit, I had worked up an appetite by the time lunch rolled around, which was enjoyed while socializing with other pilots in the Garmin classroom.

I found myself feeling a bit like a fish-out-of-water as each pilot around the room introduced themselves as at least an instrument-rated pilot. As the only VFR private pilot in the room, it was a bit challenging at first to not only learn the system, but also to understand the instrument approach concepts they were throwing at us. It’s simple enough to go through the motions and push the buttons, but I wanted to understand why I was doing what I was doing. After a couple of scenarios and help from one of the three or four instructors in the room, I was feeling confident and able to follow along without sheepishly raising my hand or asking Herron, a CFI, for some clarification.

Each student is assigned their own flight display module that consists of a G500 TXi flight display and GTN 750Xi navigator, as well as the GTN 650Xi and GFC 500 autopilot, which you’ll find in your AOPA Sweeps 182. Picture a mini glass cockpit with no yokes or other flight control knobs.

Every 15 minutes or so the instructors would present the class with a new scenario that consisted of an origin and destination airport, various altitudes, IFR waypoints, and the occasional navigational curveball. Once the initial fixes are populated into the avionics, our “aircraft” would begin its simulated journey that could be observed through our Garmin displays via artificial horizon, synthetic vision, and moving maps.

The AOPA Sweeps 182 is equipped with three GI 275 electronic displays, which neither Herron nor I had much experience using. Thankfully the folks at Garmin were kind enough to do an after-class mini GI 275 learning session. Garmin welcomed the other members of our class to partake as well.

Although learning to navigate a self-flying simulated aircraft using high-end avionics is fun, my favorite part of our visit was the behind-the-scenes Garmin factory tour. Inside, we were given a briefing then led into a room to prepare for entry. Each of us was asked to don a pair of stylish safety glasses, a cleanroom bunny suit, and anti-static shoes that were so comfortable I asked if I could take them home; they said no.

We were led through a clean room with a tacky mat floor and walls that blasted us with air before we finally got to see where the magic happens.

It felt very much like entering Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory: action everywhere, busy hands, and nothing without purpose. The factory was massive and filled with some of the most advanced automation I’d ever seen. This includes robots; but don’t get too excited, these bots are more Wall-E than I, Robot. Each has a job to do and a special line on the floor to follow; they’re all business. Although I always made sure to smile and wave, just in case.

Another highlight of our visit was checking out one of Garmin’s simulators, which was also massive, incredibly detailed, and full of the latest Garmin tech. They even let me fly it.

Our visit, although mostly educational, was still great fun. Being able to touch and use the same avionics that are in the sweepstakes aircraft not only made for more meaningful discussions about the entire Garmin suite while working with Flite Instruments and Avionics during the new panel design and installation, but made it so much less intimidating when it came time to fly the aircraft for the first time.

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