Garmin announced an expanded Connext portfolio of connectivity solutions with the Flight Stream 510 MultiMediaCard (MMC), enabling wireless aviation database transfer capabilities between the Garmin Pilot™ app on a mobile device and the GTN 650/750 touchscreen navigators. The Flight Stream 510 card installs easily into the existing card slot of the GTN and enables Garmin Database Concierge, the seamless updating of databases throughout the cockpit between GTN touchscreen navigators, as well as G500/G600 glass flight displays. In addition to Database Concierge, Flight Stream 510 enables two-way flight plan transfer between the GTN 650/750 and shares traffic, weather, GPS information, back-up attitude information and enables text messaging via compatible mobile devices and avionics. Flight Stream 510 is the most recent addition to the Connext portfolio and offers customers the most advanced connectivity options, allowing for greater flexibility and added convenience both inside and outside of the cockpit.
“Garmin has long been known as the leader in providing innovative solutions that simplify the lives of our customers and we have taken a huge leap forward in avionics connectivity with our patented Flight Stream 510 technology,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “Now tens of thousands of customers with one or more GTN 650/750 touchscreen navigators installed in the cockpit can utilize Flight Stream 510 to enable the awareness, simplicity and convenience offered by a wireless cockpit. What was once a manual, laborious process is now streamlined with Flight Stream as pilots can leave the database and information management to Garmin and devote more time to the things they love most.”
Flight Stream 510
Flight Stream 510 is a small, patented Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth®-enabled MultiMediaCard (MMC) that enables communication between the GTN 650/750 series and two compatible Apple or Android mobile devices operating Garmin Pilot. Wi-Fi connectivity is specifically for Database Concierge wireless database transfer and Bluetooth allows for a wide variety of additional capabilities, including flight plan transfer. Customers can easily incorporate wireless technology into their aircraft with the latest GTN software upgrade and Flight Stream 510, as no wiring changes or complex installation considerations are required. Pilots can more easily manage their database subscriptions with Flight Stream, while also receiving additional benefits such as wireless flight plan transfer, the sharing of traffic, weather, GPS and more. For customers with a G500/G600 glass flight display installed, back-up AHRS information also wirelessly displays within a mobile device.
Database Concierge wireless database transfer
Once initial set-up between Connext and Flight Stream 510 is complete, customers can optimize Garmin Pilot to automatically download the most up-to-date information within the application every time a new database cycle is available. Databases that are downloaded prior to their effective date remain in the standby position within the GTN 650/750 and automatically become active on the current date. Once a connection is established between Garmin Pilot and Flight Stream 510 at the aircraft, pilots are prompted to transfer the most up-to-date databases to the GTN, where the database transfer occurs in minutes1. Flight Stream 510 wirelessly transfers the following databases to the GTN: Jeppesen NavData or the new Garmin Navigation Database, Obstacle, Terrain, SafeTaxi®, FliteCharts® and Basemap. See the Garmin website for additional device compatibilities and mobile device storage recommendations.
Database synchronization
Customers with any combination of GTNs or GTNs with G500/G600s receive additional benefits with database synchronization and Flight Stream. Once customers complete the wireless database transfer to the GTN, the databases are automatically transferred to the G500/G600 and synced across both systems to ensure database information matches and is up-to-date. Chart streaming also allows pilots to view and utilize departure, approach and arrival charts right away, even while the charts database is synchronizing between the GTN and G500/G600 glass flight display.
Connext text and voice control via mobile devices
With Flight Stream 510, customers can pair an Apple mobile device operating Garmin Pilot to the GTN to access text and voice services enabled by a GSR 56 datalink2. While in-flight and on the ground, pilots can quickly send and receive text messages with a mobile device using a familiar conversation format and conveniently utilize the phone’s existing contact database. Similarly, customers can initiate phone calls on an Apple mobile device within Garmin Pilot, so it’s easier to complete phone calls over a headset while in flight. The GSR 56 also supports the display of weather on compatible avionics.
Two-way flight plan transfer
Flight Stream 510 supports wireless flight plan transfer via Bluetooth between the GTN 650/750 and the industry’s most popular mobile applications, Garmin Pilot and ForeFlight Mobile. When the avionics are powered on, the flight plan transfer occurs with a couple of taps. Flight plans can be saved within the flight plan catalog or activated for immediate use within the GTN. With Flight Stream, pilots have the added convenience of flight planning on a mobile device and wirelessly transferring it to the GTN in seconds so more time can be devoted to other activities prior to departure.
Stream wireless traffic, weather, GPS and more
The information and capabilities provided by Flight Stream 510 are enhanced even further when the GTN 650/750 is interfaced to the GTX 345 all-in-one ADS-B transponder or GDL® 88 ADS-B datalink. When paired with either of these products, ADS-B traffic and subscription-free Flight Information Service-Broadcast (FIS-B) weather3 display via Bluetooth on a mobile device operating Garmin Pilot or ForeFlight Mobile. As part of Garmin’s Terminal Safety Solutions, TargetTrend™ relative motion technology and TerminalTraffic™ enhance the traffic display within Garmin Pilot and the GTN 650/750. TargetTrend offers pilots a heightened state of situational awareness, which incorporates relative motion technology to help pilots visualize closure rates of potential traffic conflicts. The traffic display is further enhanced during taxi, takeoff and landing with TerminalTraffic, which detects and displays other aircraft or ground vehicles on runways and taxiways that are ADS-B Out compliant. Pilots also have access to a comprehensive set of FIS-B weather products, including NEXRAD, METARs, TAFs, PIREPs, winds and temperatures aloft, NOTAMs and AIRMET/SIGMETs.
Adding to the wireless versatility of Flight Stream 510, GPS location information from the GTN navigators can be shared to display precise position information within mobile devices. Customers who have a G500/G600 glass flight display paired with a GTN 650/750 can also display back-up attitude information within Garmin Pilot and ForeFlight Mobile. The Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) from the G500/G600 is utilized to display dynamic pitch and bank information within these apps.
Flight Stream 510 compatibility is further extended to include the GDL 69/69A SiriusXM datalink receiver, which supports the display of SiriusXM Aviation weather within Garmin Pilot in the U.S. and Canada. Pilots and passengers also have access to channel selections, volume controls and can save favorite audio channels for convenient remote control and access of SiriusXM satellite radio from anywhere in the cockpit.
Garmin portables including the aera® 795/796 and the aera 660 are also compatible with Flight Stream 510, which support the display of ADS-B traffic, FIS-B weather information and more. TargetTrend and TerminalTraffic also enhance the traffic display within the aera 795/796 and aera 660, while FIS-B weather products can be overlaid on the moving map and dedicated weather pages. Additionally, the aera 660 supports wireless flight plan transfer, as well as the display of back-up attitude information.
Flight Stream 510 is expected to be available in August for a list price of $1,495. The latest GTN 650/750 software upgrade that supports wireless database transfer and more is expected to be available in August through a Garmin Authorized Dealer (installation charges may apply). A compatible version of Garmin Pilot for Apple and Android mobile devices is expected to be available later this week on the flyGarmin® website. Customers can also visit flyGarmin to download the most up-to-date database information for their Garmin avionics. For additional information, visit: www.garmin.com/connext.
Garmin’s aviation business segment is a leading provider of solutions to OEM, aftermarket, military and government customers. Garmin’s portfolio includes navigation, communication, flight control, hazard avoidance, an expansive suite of ADS-B solutions and other products and services that are known for innovation, reliability, and value. For more information about Garmin’s full line of avionics, go to www.garmin.com/aviation.
