With a host of aircraft in its market segment (as well as those adjacent to it) already capable of the upgrade, it was only a matter of time before Garmin brought the G1000 NXi into the Beechcraft King Air C90. The popular flight deck has a growing following, compelling Garmin to continue its path to allow more owners and operators to enjoy its broad range of features.
Carl Wolf, vice president of aviation sales and marketing, lists a few of those: “The G1000 NXi is an advanced flight deck that adds modern features including wireless connectivity, visual approach guidance, SurfaceWatch, HSI map and more, all of which add tremendous value and [more] advanced capability than ever before into existing King Air C90 aircraft.”
The first C90 hit the market in 1971, and its popularity in a variety of Part 135 and 91 missions meant that, including later versions, more than 1,250 have been delivered over the years. Many of those still possess rather rudimentary panels in today’s landscape, clearly making the potential install base interesting from an avionics manufacturer’s perspective.
The G1000 NXi brings more than just a couple of glass panels to the cockpit, however. The Flight Stream 510 and Connext technology enable the wireless transfer of aviation databases from the Garmin Pilot app on a mobile device, called Database Concierge. Added features include two-way flight plan transfer, sharing of traffic and weather (in certain aircraft with compatible hardware), GPS data, and back-up attitude information. Pilots can overlay—right on the HSI map—NEXRAD or FIS-B weather, taxi diagrams, traffic, terrain, and more.
Other models in the G1000 NXi portfolio now include a distinguished list of single- and twin-engine piston and turboprop aircraft, such as the C90’s King Air 200/300/350 brethren, the Daher TBM 850/900, and the PA-46—as well as the turbine-powered Cessna Citation Mustang. Soon to come: the Embraer Phenom 100.
