The Blackhawk Group’s Performance Center in Columbia, Missouri, has achieved the first installation of Garmin’s autothrottle and Autoland system on a Beechcraft King Air 350 equipped with the G1000 NXi avionics suite.
“This first installation demonstrates our readiness to deliver these industry-defining technologies to King Air 350 operators,” said Charlie Love, president of The Blackhawk Group’s Performance Center Network. “We’re excited to bring the highest levels of automation and safety ever available in this platform directly to our customers.”
Garmin’s G1000 NXi integrated flight deck is required for the Autoland system in King Airs, along with the autothrottles. The system will automatically select a suitable airport and communicate with ATC and on local airport frequencies while configuring the airplane to land, touching down, applying brakes, and shutting off the engines. Autoland is only available for emergency situations and will activate if it detects an unresponsive pilot; alternatively, anyone on board can activate the system with the push of a button.
The autothrottles manage speed and power from takeoff to touchdown, protecting against engine exceedances. Additional assistance is available via automatic autothrottle engagement during under- and overspeed scenarios or engine-out situations.