Last week after Garmin announced its first retrofit autopilots, the GFC 500 and GFC 600, the aviation community cheered — and then wondered if more products from other manufacturers would quickly follow. Boy did they ever. This week at AirVenture, the autopilot party continues as sub-$20,000 systems from Genesys Aerosystems (formerly S-TEC), BendixKing, TruTrak and Trio Avionics hit the market, bringing autoflight capability to the general aviation masses.
A Wave of Low-Cost Autopilots Emerges at AirVenture
Key Takeaways:
- The general aviation market is seeing a surge of new, affordable (sub-$20,000) autopilot systems for certified aircraft, making autoflight capabilities more accessible.
- Manufacturers such as Genesys Aerosystems (S-TEC 3100), TruTrak (Vizion), and Trio Avionics (Pro Pilot) have introduced or gained STC approval for these new systems at AirVenture.
- These new autopilots offer advanced features like envelope protection, integration with diverse avionics, and include upgrade options for existing systems like BendixKing's KFC 230 AeroCruze.
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