It’s no secret that aviation has introduced hundreds of remarkable cockpit technologies over the years, but as light aircraft owners are quick to point out, “At what price?” Garmin recently took a major step forward in the war against the high cost of electronics by introducing the G5, a compact sunlight-readable electronic flight instrument for certificated aircraft, usable in both VFR and IFR flight. The G5 is a perfect direct replacement for a host of ancient vacuum attitude indicators on some 562 various aircraft makes and models. In addition to replacing old indicators, the G5 delivers a solid airspeed indicator, altimeter, vertical speed indicator and turn coordinator in a single unit.
The G5 first emerged in the experimental market and made the transition to legacy aircraft thanks to a Garmin supplemental type certificate. That means a G5 is not only easy-to-install, but inexpensive.
The STC is part of the FAA’s ongoing initiative to encourage enhancements that improve safety in the existing general aviation fleet.
Carl Wolf, Garmin vice president of aviation sales and marketing, said, “The FAA’s Safer Skies initiative identified vacuum system and gyro failures as a significant contributor to accidents in instrument meteorological conditions among GA, and with the support of the FAA, we’re working to address those concerns.”
