Story ID: 
Diamond DA-42 certification marks G1000 cockpit debut
By: Stephen Pope
Caption: The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) last month certified the Garmin G1000 integrated avionics system as part of the type certificate for the Diamond
Word Count: 271
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) last month certified the Garmin G1000 integrated avionics system as part of the type certificate for the Diamond DA-42, a four-place diesel twin built in Austria.

The milestone marks the first certification on an aircraft of the Garmin glass cockpit, which has been selected to fly in a number of GA aircraft, including the very light Cessna Citation Mustang and the HondaJet, a developmental compact twinjet from the Japanese carmaker that has yet to get the green light for production. 

The avionics configuration in the DA-42 includes a pair of 10.4-inch LCD screens that replace traditional round-dial cockpit instruments. The system integrates navigation and communication functions with the glass displays and processors. 

Garmin designed the G1000 system to increase situational awareness, presenting aircraft performance, navigation, weather, terrain and traffic information digitally on its large-format displays. The G1000 PFD features wide horizon lines; three-axis flight dynamics; airspeed, altitude and vertical-speed readouts; and horizontal situation indicator with 360-degree arc. 

On the system’s MFD are all engine operational parameters, engine trend data and exceedance monitoring; optional satellite weather datalink through Weather Works and XM Radio; lightning-detection interfaces; class-B TAWS; detailed topographic mapping; and traffic information service (TIS) data, using Garmin’s mode-S technology.

To date, the G1000 has also been selected to fly in the Diamond DA-40; Cessna 182 and 206; and Mooney Ovation2 GX and Bravo GX. Diamond has not yet announced the avionics for its D-Jet, a very light jet single that is under developme