Garmin® unveils the fourth generation GPS/NAV/COMM

January 13, 2020
Garmin have recently announced the GTN™ 650Xi and GTN 750Xi, the next generation of in-flight navigation technology.

Designed as a direct slide-in upgrade to the previous generation GTN 650/750, pilots can preserve their panel & modernize the cockpit with the new GTN 650Xi & GTN 750Xi. The all-in-one GPS/NAV/COMM boasts a feature-rich multifunction display & can integrate with new or existing remote-mount equipment such as a transponder or audio panel. Dual-core processors & modern hardware also prepare the GTN Xi series for advanced capabilities in the future. The GTN 650Xi & GTN 750Xi have received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval & are available immediately for fixed-wing single-engine & multi-engine piston, turbine & experimental aircraft, with helicopter & business aircraft approvals soon to follow.

“After decades of innovation & pioneering the GPS/NAV/COMM, we’re excited to bring the fourth generation GTN 650Xi & GTN 750Xi to the market,” said Carl Wolf, vice president of aviation sales & marketing. “Garmin was the first to introduce the all-in-one navigator with the iconic GNS 430/530. Over time the GNS WAAS & the industry-first GTN 650/750 touchscreen navigators were added to the line-up along with state-of-the-art features such as voice control, wireless connectivity & more. As the leader in GPS cockpit navigation, we have brought the most widely adopted navigators to the industry & with the GTN 650Xi & GTN 750Xi, we’re excited to add one more to the family.”

Modern processing power & state-of-the-art hardware within the GTN 650Xi/750Xi supports faster map rendering & smoother panning throughout the touchscreen navigator. It boasts a large, ultra-high-resolution display & wide viewing angle that offers superior readability in the cockpit. The displays initialize within seconds of start-up, providing immediate access to frequencies & flight plan information, saving valuable time in the aircraft. Preserving the same form factor as the previous generation GTN 650/750, the 6-inch-tall GTN 750Xi & the 2.65-inch-tall GTN 650Xi offer an intuitive touchscreen design with a dedicated direct-to button & dual concentric knob that provide added convenience when interfacing with the display.

Retaining all the features of the GTN 650/750, the GTN Xi series adds a vibrant display & vivid colours that enhance the contemporary look of the new navigators. When installed alongside a G500 TXi or G600 TXi flight display, the GTN Xi series brings a new level of modernization to the cockpit. Highly complementary, the GTN Xi & the TXi flight displays share similarities in display, appearance & hardware qualities. For example, both products feature an angular bezel so the pilot has a near-seamless experience when transitioning between the touchscreen flight display & the navigator.

The GTN 650Xi/750Xi offer advanced navigation functions, including ILS & LPV instrument approach procedures, as well as visual approach guidance. Based on a published glide path angle or a three-degree glideslope from the threshold of the runway, visual approaches also take into account terrain & obstacle clearance to assist pilots in flying a stabilized approach to the runway in visual flight conditions. Approach types that incorporate radius-to-fix (RF) leg types are also supported by the GTN Xi series. Additional capabilities include the option to add a published or custom holding procedure, vertical navigation (VNAV), graphical flight plan editing on the moving map & more.

The colourful, multifunction display-like map allows pilots to better visualize their dynamic position relative to potential hazards, such as terrain, weather & traffic. Geo-referenced instrument approach procedures can be overlaid on the map page, offering superior situational awareness when transitioning from the en-route to approach phase of flight. Terrain alerting is included within the GTN Xi series & further enhances situational awareness by using its internal terrain & obstacle database to provide audible & visual terrain proximity alerts, including, “terrain ahead, pull up” & “obstacle ahead, pull up.” Helicopter Terrain Awareness & Warning System (HTAWS), TAWS-A & TAWS-B are available as options.

Superior integration with an array of avionics on the market make the GTN 650Xi/750Xi a simple & straightforward solution to incorporate into any cockpit. Options for remote audio panel or transponder display & control allow aircraft owners to simplify their panel. When paired with a Garmin autopilot, such as the GFC™ 500 or GFC 600, pilots can fly fully coupled VNAV profiles & instrument approach procedures. Pilot workload-reducing features such as Telligence™ voice control are also available within the GTN Xi when paired with the optional GMA™ 35c. When paired with a GSR 56 Iridium datalink, global text & voice calling can be completed through the touchscreen display on the navigator.

Wireless connectivity is available with the optional Flight Stream 510, allowing pilots to connect their mobile devices running the Garmin Pilot™ & FltPlan Go applications to the GTN 650Xi/750Xi. When connected to the navigator, pilots can save time in the cockpit by wirelessly transferring aviation databases & flight plans from their mobile device to the navigator. Flight Stream 510 also supports the sharing of traffic, weather, GPS position information & more. The GTN Xi series is also compatible with the cost-effective Garmin navigation database.

The GTN 650Xi & GTN 750Xi have received FAA Supplemental Type Certification (STC) & are available immediately through Garmin Authorized Dealers for a suggested retail price of $12,495 & $17,995 respectively. A free GTN Xi trainer app is also available for download on Apple mobile devices, which allows customers to experience the feature set of these navigators. A new GTN Essentials 2.0 eLearning Course provides instruction on best practices for operational use of the new GTN Xi series & can be accessed via this website: https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/712644. The GTN Xi series come with a two-year warranty & are supported by Garmin’s award-winning aviation support team, which provides 24/7 worldwide technical & warranty support. Garmin was awarded top honours last year in avionics product support for the 16th straight year by Aviation International News, & earned the top spot in the annual avionics product support survey conducted by Professional Pilotmagazine this year, also for the 16th consecutive year.