Garmin has announced that eight new features are now available for select helicopters with GTN650/750 panel-mounted navigators. By contacting an authorized Garmin dealer, operators can now add WireAware (for locating dangerous power lines); FastFind (with predictive logic to make it easier to enter waypoint and airport data); simple frequency enter and ID (removing the need to type the first digit of a frequency, and displaying the facility name onscreen).
Also available are customizable checklists/flight plan entry (enabling operators to create their own checklists and flight plans, and upload them to the navigator with a data card); search and rescue (automatically creates flight plans for search patterns for SAR operations); fuel-range ring (map overlay showing current safe range for fuel state); animated Nexrad (shows weather movement over time); additional customization options (operators can choose their own way to configure data fields, show bearing and distance to waypoints and enable custom messaging).
The new features are available on GTN navigators with v6.11 software via AML STC for operators of the Bell 206/407 series; Airbus AS350B2/B3, EC130B4 and EC130T2; and the MD Helicopters MD369E/F/FF.