The FAA has approved Garmin’s supplemental type certificate (STC) for the installation of the GFC 600 autopilot in Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain utility airplanes, the company announced Thursday. Along with the new autopilot capabilities, PA-31-350 operators are now able to use Garmin’s Smart Rudder Bias system, an autopilot safety feature that can help pilots in the event of a single engine failure. The Smart Rudder Bias automatically adjusts the rudder force to help control side slip after an engine failure. In order to use the Smart Rudder Bias, an aircraft must be equipped with the GFC 600 autopilot, as well as a G500 TXi or G600 TXi flight display with an engine indicating system.
“Incorporating solid state attitude with robust self-monitoring capabilities, the GFC 600 provides superior autopilot performance, greater reliability, and tremendous safety tools,” Garmin said in a statement. The GFC 600 combines traditional autopilot capabilities—like altitude hold, vertical speed, and heading modes—with premium functions, including altitude preselect, indicated airspeed hold mode, vertical navigation, level mode, and electronic stability and protection.
Garmin’s GFC 600 digital autopilot is designed to simplify single-pilot operations in twin- and single-engine piston and turbine aircraft with a range of speed and performance capabilities. The FAA has also approved its use in Cessna CitationJet models, Pilatus PC-12/41 and PC-12/45 models, 200-series Beechcraft King Airs, the Beechcraft Baron 58/58A, Cessna 340/340A, and several other models.