Despite reports that the hugely popular Garmin GNS-series navigators are at the end of their service life, Garmin says that 99 percent of GNS users can keep using their units. [Courtesy: The Aviation Consumer/screenshot]
Key Takeaways:
Garmin has issued a service advisory curtailing support for its legacy GNS 430 and GNS 530 products, primarily due to an inability to source parts for the 25-year-old technology.
Repair options are limited: GNS 430 display-driving modules are unavailable, while GNS 530 displays and other components for both units may still be repairable for a flat fee (starting at $2,000) as long as supplies last.
Owners can receive a $650 credit towards new units if a non-repairable unit is surrendered, or benefit from $1,000-$1,750 rebates on new Garmin products with an operable display trade-in.
Replacing a unit is costly, with new options ranging from ~$11,000 for basic functionality to ~$20,000 for advanced models, and owners are cautioned against waiting for a unit to break due to potential long avionics shop installation times.
A service advisory issued by Garmin on January 4 threw some operators of its legacy products into a tailspin, inclusive of conspiracy theories about planned obsolescence.
No one should be surprised at the situation. Garmin has been whispering about this possibility for a handful of years.
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Les Abend is a retired, 34-year veteran of American Airlines, attempting to readjust his passion for flying airplanes in the lower flight levels—without the assistance of a copilot.
