Garmin’s GTX 345 ADS-B. (Garmin)
With eight months left before the FAA’s 2020 ADS-B mandate kicks in, Garmin has unveiled four new ADS-B-compliant avionics solutions.
The GTX 335D and 345D are ADS-B transponders that meet global requirements, including those proposed by Nav Canada. The GTX 335D offers only ADS-B Out, while the 345D adds to that function ADS-B In traffic and weather for display on compatible avionics and mobile devices.
The GTX 335D/345D solutions utilize one antenna mounted on top and another mounted on the bottom of the aircraft — what they call diversity antennas. Garmin says this reduces antenna “shading” that single-antenna solutions can experience when an aircraft turns or maneuvers. The improved visibility afforded by the dual antennas also improves ADS-B transmission quality. That form factor was developed in response to customer request, according to a company spokesman, and is a requirement under one of the phases of Nav Canada’s proposed rolling ADS-B mandates that could come in the next few years.
There are also a remote-mounted versions of both the GTX 335D and 345D, which take the place of an aircraft transponder and interfaces with the existing wide-area augmentation system (WAAS) position source to meet ADS-B Out requirements.
Garmin has received technical standard orders for both products from the FAA and said it will begin deliveries next week. It expects to have an updated aircraft model list STC by late second quarter with hundreds of aircraft.
Garmin’s GNX 375 displaying a topographical map. (Garmin)
Garmin also unveiled two new navigators with optional ADS-B In/Out integration.
The GPS 175 and GNX 375 are 6.25-by-2-inch WAAS/satellite-based augmentation system GPSs featuring localizer performance with vertical guidance (LPV) approach capability. The GPS 175 is a touchscreen instrument flight rules navigator with a moving map and optional ADS-B In/Out. The GNX 375 takes that functionality and adds dual-link ADS-B In via a built-in transponder and dedicated pages for traffic and weather.
“Many aircraft have not been equipped with WAAS/LPV or ADS-B due to the lack of a compelling value proposition for owners of these aircraft,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “The GPS 175 and GNX 375 offer WAAS/LPV approaches and optional ADS-B In/Out with an impressive array of features, performance, and compelling value.”
They are intended for Class I/II aircraft weighing 6,000 lbs. or less, and will be available for 700 makes and models under the STCs Garmin holds beginning in April. Authorized dealers already have them. Garmin said it sees the GPS 175 and GNX 375 replacing products such as the GPS 150/155, the GX 50/500 and the KLN 89/90/94. Operators using those solutions currently won’t require significant modifications to accommodate the new items.