Garmin’s GFC 600 digital autopilot has received FAA STC approval for Cessna 441 turboprop twins, the company announced today. The upgraded equipment provides capabilities such as altitude hold, vertical speed and heading modes, altitude preselect, Vnav, level mode, and underspeed and overspeed protection.
When the autopilot is paired with a compatible GPS navigator, pilots can also select, couple, and fly GPS, ILS, VOR, LOC, and back course approaches, according to Garmin. Other features include GPS roll-steering, yaw dampening, flight director command bars on flight displays such as the G600 and G600 TXi, control wheel steering, and coupled go-arounds.
The installation, which can be performed at select Garmin-authorized dealers, also includes brushless-motor autopilot servos designed for harsh operating conditions.
In addition to introducing the newly certified Cessna 441 autopilot, Garmin has expanded autopilot coverage for the broader Cessna 400-series family. Additionally, Garmin is introducing a new “de-mod” kit for select Cessna 400-series aircraft, enabling GFC 600 installations in eligible aircraft that do not currently have the Cessna 400/800/1000 autopilot components installed.