How Garmins 696 Can Save Your Bacon

We have a love-hate relationship with cockpit gadgets. On one hand, were strongly in favor of anything that simplifies aviating, navigating and communicating. On the other hand, weve too often seen people get caught up trying to make the gadget work while ignoring the airplane. In the end, we (and our wallets) always have yearned for some kind of inexpensive all-in-one magic box to simplify cockpit chores. Garmins latest GPS portable, the GPSMAP 696, comes about as close as weve seen. Its not perfect, its definitely not cheap and it occupies a lot of space in what might be cramped quarters, but the sheer volume of features and the ease with which they can be accessed pretty much demand anyone shopping for a portable GPS navigator take a close look at the 696. Moreover, having one of these in the cockpit might save what otherwise could be a very bad day. Lets look at what those safety features are and how they work.

Key Takeaways:

• The Garmin GPSMAP 696 is an advanced portable GPS that integrates a wide array of sophisticated navigation and safety features, previously found in expensive panel-mounted avionics, into a single unit.
• Its large screen significantly enhances safety by allowing simultaneous display of critical information, such as a virtual instrument panel (for backup), moving map, and real-time weather.
• Key safety functionalities include SafeTaxi, which highlights high-risk areas on airport diagrams for safer ground navigation, and integrated IFR approach and en route charts with weather/terrain overlays for improved airborne decision-making.
• The 696 effectively functions as an electronic flight bag, consolidating extensive aviation data and bringing sophisticated navigation capabilities to a broader range of aircraft, including those without electrical systems.

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