Garmin was granted a FAA supplemental type certification (STC) for the G1000 avionics suite in the Beechcraft King Air 300 and 350.
The G1000 avionics suite for the King Air 300/350 integrates all primary flight information, navigation data, communications, terrain awareness, traffic, weather, and engine instruments on a large 15-inch multi-function display (MFD) and two 10.4-inch primary flight displays (PFD). The G1000 upgrade includes the GFC 700 three-axis, fully digital, dual channel, fail safe automatic flight control system (AFCS). The GFC 700 includes features such as coupled LPV approaches, vertical navigation, and flight level change (FLC).
“The G1000 continues to be a remarkably popular upgrade because it brings leading edge capabilities to aircraft that pilots and operators have loved for years,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin’s vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “For that reason, we continue to expand our line-up of G1000 upgrade platforms, opening the door for even more operators to revitalize their aircraft with state-of-the-art technology. With this STC, the G1000 is now available for a wide range of King Air C90, 200, B200, 300 and 350 models, offering the most comprehensive coverage of any avionics upgrade available for the King Air line.”
The King Air 300/350 STC also includes approval for Garmin’s Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) that presents a 3-D depiction of terrain, obstacles, traffic and the runway environment on the G1000’s PFD so that the image replicates what pilots would see outside the cockpit on a clear day. SVT also includes pathways (or Highway-In-The-Sky) to help pilots stay on course when flying en route legs, VNAV legs, GPS/WAAS vertical approach procedures, ILS approach procedures, and arrival and departure procedures. SVT is certified and available immediately for King Air 300/350 owners and is an optional upgrade.
The King Air 300/350 STC also qualifies the aircraft for Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) operational approval. This will allow aircraft to safely fly more optimum profiles, gain fuel savings and increase airspace capacity.