Garmin has announced a new series of VHF com and nav/com radios in its GTR and GNC series. As replacements for the SL 30 and SL 40 models, the GTR series com transceivers and GNC series nav/com radios include new features to reduce pilot workload while offering a solution to meet the requirements of the 8.33 kHz channel spacing mandate recently enacted by the EU under the Single European Sky initiative.
“These products have truly reinvented the stand-alone com and nav/com radios with novel features like reverse database lookup and the com monitor function, which bring new efficiencies to cockpit radio management,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin’s vice president of aviation sales and marketing.
The unique frequency database makes it easy to find frequencies associated with a given airport or facility just by entering the location name or station ID. And when manually tuning a frequency, the reverse lookup function will automatically provide the navaid or airport identifier.
Pilots can also find the nearest airport, area control center, flight service station, weather frequencies and VORs. All models also include a com monitor function that provides the utility of two receivers in one, allowing the pilot to listen to ATIS transmissions without leaving the active ATC frequency, for example.
The GTR and GNC series automatically store the 20 most recently used frequencies. Plus, the radios allow for storage of up to 15 most-used frequencies such as the pilot’s home airport or other frequently visited destinations. A familiar flip-flop feature allows channels to be entered in a standby window, and then activated with a press of a button. All models also include a built-in, voice-activated two-place intercom.
The GTR and GNC series are more powerful than their SL series predecessors with versions available with 10- or 16-watt transmit power, allowing for increased range. The GTR 225 has 10 watts of transmit power and 25 kHz frequency spacing for $1,995. The GTR 225A adds 8.33 kHz frequency spacing for $2,995, and the GTR 225B includes 8.33 kHz spacing and 16-watt transmit power for $3,995. The GNC 255A includes 10 watts of transmit power for $4,495 and the GNC 255B includes 16 watts of transmit power for $5,495. Both GNC models include 8.33 kHz spacing.
All products in the series have received the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Technical Standard Order (TSO) authorization and are expected to be available in February to U.S. and global destinations accepting FAA TSO. The GTR and GNC series will be available in Europe upon European Technical Standard Order (ETSO) authorization, expected in first quarter 2013.
For more information, visit www.garmin.com/aviation.
