Garmin’s Autoland Passes First Real-World Test

Company’s automated landing system took control of a Beechcraft King Air B200 after loss of pressurization.

Jack Daleo

Friday, December 26, 2025 at 01:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

A Beechcraft King Air B200 activated its Garmin Autoland system after pilots reported a loss of cabin pressurization. [Credit: Garmin]

Key Takeaways:

A Beechcraft King Air B200 successfully executed the first real-world emergency landing using Garmin Autoland due to a cabin pressurization issue.
The Autoland system activated automatically when cabin altitude exceeded safe levels, and while the crew was conscious, they opted to let the system manage the complex landing given challenging conditions.
The automated system took full control, communicated with ATC, and safely landed the aircraft with its two occupants at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport.
The landing was completed without injuries, and the aircraft returned to service the following day, demonstrating the system's effectiveness.

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A Beechcraft King Air B200 equipped with Garmin Autoland last week executed its first real-world emergency landing, according to the company.

The twin turboprop, tail number N479BR, had no passengers on board and was making a repositioning flight, its operator told FlightRadar24. According to CBS Colorado, the pilot reported a cabin pressurization issue to air traffic control (ATC) shortly after taking off from Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (KASE) in Colorado around 1:43 p.m. local time on December 20. Buffalo River Aviation CEO Chris Townsend told CBS that the Autoland system activated on its own after the aircraft’s cabin altitude exceeded safe levels.