Garmin - A Pioneer of Aviation GPS
When it comes to aviation GPS units, Garmin is one of the most respected names in the industry. They make several panel-mounted GPS units that are used daily for VFR and IFR navigation. The innovative company was formed in 1989, and they have consistenly produced quality GPS navigation products. In fact, the first products they created were for the aviation industry - instrument panel mounted systems for aircraft navigation.
Garmin's experience with aviation GPS technology has pushed envelope in the area of both portable and panel mount GPS units.
If you have been putting off adding a portable GPS to your flight bag, then now may be the time to look at Garmin's line of units. They have both color version and non-color versions. One of the first questions you must answer, is whether or not you will want a full-color screen or not. This will make a big difference in the price. Full-color maps are easier to read because they can contain more detail.
For panel mount GPS units, Garmin makes several models to choose from. You will, however, first need to decide what features are important to you. If you are going to be shooting IFR approaches, then you will need a unit that has TSO certified. Also, the higher end models now feature WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) which allows for precision guidance via GPS. This technology is integrated right into the unit and provides for precise lateral and vertical approach guidance, similar to ILS operations.
Related Articles
Panel Mounted Garmin GPS Units
Aviation GPS Article Index List of all aviation GPS articles on this site.