Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014 - 74

GPS AND VHF

Continued from page 73

charts and airport diagrams. If the current approach is
known, GPSMAP 695 automatically selects the correct
chart based on the flight plan. When in IFR map
mode, the 695 can display Victor airways, jet routes,
minimum en route altitude and leg distance, much like
found on paper en route charts.
The GPSMAP 695 features a high-resolution terrain
page showing hazards relative to your altitude and
a vertical profile of terrain along your route of flight.
Its built-in Jeppesen database and terrain database
(Americas, Atlantic or Pacific) also includes an
obstacles database for the U.S. or Europe. This data
works with the GPS position information to display
flight route over contour terrain mapping to provide
terrain alerts. You can even customize your own
minimum clearance levels to receive terrain cautions.
•
Garmin SafeTaxi: Provides detailed taxiway
diagrams and position information for more
than 850 U.S. airports. Preloaded on the unit,
this information helps you navigate unfamiliar
airports with confidence and shows your
aircraft’s exact position on the field.
•

•

AOPA Airport Directory: Offers detailed
information for more than 5,300 U.S. airports,
along with the names and phone numbers
of thousands of FBOs. Easily look up taxi
services, plan an overnight, and choose fuel
stops, plus find ground transportation, lodging,
restaurants, local attractions and more.
Private Airports and Heliports: Provides data
on private airports and heliports throughout
the U.S. and Europe, and materially expands
your list of navigation and emergency “nearest”
options.

aera 500 Series
From its beginnings, Garmin’s focus on the portable
GPS navigators continues uninterrupted; you can
literally trace the product line’s evolution through the
numbering system applied to models as they emerged.
The GPS Map in an aviation incarnation yielded to
the GPS Map 96 and through the 195, the 295, 395,
495 – and 496 – and into the aera era of 500-series
models.
These nearly identical incarnations sport more
features and operational depth as the numbers
progress from the 500 and its companion 510 to the
550 and its more-potent sibling, the 560.

First numbering note for this two: the 500 and 510
are essentially the same unit, differing in the ability to
receive XM datalink weather; the 510 does, the 500
does not. The same convention applies to the 550 and
560: the 560 comes with an integral XM receiver, the
550 doesn’t. Buyers of the no-weather models – 500
and 550 – get to choose a regional database: the
Americas, Atlantic and Pacific. Weather-data capable
models are available only with the Americas database.
Now for the differences between the 500/510 and
550/560: it is largely a matter of documents depth.
All four carry a database for airways and
intersections, and another for roads and highways –
for driving use.
For aviation, all four sport a panel page as an
artificial replacement for the airplane stack – in the
event of any panel-instrument failures.
All four list private airports; and all support
Bluetooth.
The 550 and 560 add the digital AOPA Airports
Directory and Garmin’s approach charts.
All four sport sharp, crisp screens measuring 4.3
inches diagonally. Prices range from about $700 for
the 500 to about $1,600 for the 560.

Portable VHF:
Your Very Helpful Friend
In an age when new-technology communications
channels seem to come along annually, the continued
use of the very high frequency analog radio spectrum
still provides the main voice connection between
various air-traffic control facilities, airports and aviation
shops, on one side, and aircraft on the other.
They appeal as standby equipment to pilots flying
behind full stacks. To aviators flying aircraft lacking
electrical systems, they often serve as primary voicecommunications gear; in between they fill needs as
diverse as the pilot population.
In primary roles, these miracles of modern
engineering serve pilots of sailplanes and balloons,
ultralights and antiques – aircraft generally lacking
electrical systems or even a battery.
For many experimental builders, the handheld
VHF unit serves as a suitable solution for their
communications needs and an alternative to GPS for
navigation work.
Beyond talking, receivers sensitive to the VHF
spectrum continue to provide necessary navigation

- 74 -

Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2013-2014