Garmin’s (NYSE: GRMN) G5000 flight deck for the Cessna Citation Excel and Citation XLS aircraft is expected to earn European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval soon.
The technology company announced this week that it has been working with European regulators to finalize the permission needed by EASA-certificated operators to install the G5000 integrated avionic suite on the midsize jets.
Garmin’s Cessna Citation Excel and Citation XLS G5000 modernization program launched three years ago, and more than 100 Excel and XLS aircraft have added the avionics package to those jets.
Now, the company is excited to gain footing in Europe. “We are thrilled to bring this complete flight deck solution to the European market and further expand the G5000 upgrade program for the Citation Excel and Citation XLS fleet,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin’s vice president of aviation sales and marketing, in a statement.
The G5000 features for the Citation Excel/XLS include:
- Three landscape-oriented flight displays with split-screen capability
- Simultaneously viewing of maps, charts, checklists, TAWS, TCAS, flight plans, and weather
- Electronic charts and geo-referenced Garmin SafeTaxi airport diagrams across all displays
- Touchscreen controllers that as the pilot interface to the flight deck
- Fully digital automatic flight control system (AFCS)
- Autopilot-enabled Emergency Descent Mode (EDM) in the event of aircraft depressurization
- Optional autopilot-assisted underspeed protection (USP) to assist with airspeed management while enabling fully coupled go-arounds.
The upgrade also comes with fully integrated ADS-B Out solutions that are FAA and EASA compliant. Also, operators can access more airports and lower approach minimums through the PBN/RNP 0.3 with LPV/APV approach capabilities.
Operators may also add additional optional features, but those in Europe will benefit from added capabilities once the integration is approved.
