Story ID: 
Garmin Introduces GHA 15 Altitude Reader
By: Hanneke Weitering
Caption: Garmin’s new radar-based altitude callout system is designed to help pilots know how far their aircraft is from the ground during landing.
Word Count: 299
Garmin is preparing to release a new height-measuring system for experimental and light sport aircraft. The new device, called the GHA 15 height advisor, works with Garmin’s G3X Touch displays and uses radar technology to precisely measure an aircraft’s height above ground level.
The GHA 15 has all of its electronics integrated into a single module mounted on the belly of an airplane. Weighing in at just under one pound, the module is slightly larger than a deck of cards. According to Garmin, the small and lightweight device is quick and easy to install and requires minimal space. It will be available in August and is expected to cost about $2,000.
Height-measuring devices like the GHA 15 can be useful for pilots when landing an aircraft, and they can be used to monitor altitude when flying in remote areas where barometric altimeter setting information is unavailable. While other height-measuring devices like the Send Solutions Land-Dar use lidar to determine an aircraft’s distance from the ground, the GHA 15 takes a different approach by using radar. 
As the GHA 15 beams radio waves downward, those radio waves bounce off the ground and travel back up to the device, which precisely measures how much time it takes to receive those reflected signals. The GHA 15 processes hundreds of these measurements per second to provide continuous readings—even over water or challenging terrain. 
Readings from the GHA 15 are displayed on the G3X Touch flight display and drawn on the altitude tape or gauge when flying at altitudes of up to 500 feet agl The G3X can also provide audio callouts, which the pilot can configure to occur at different intervals or to automatically turn on/off at specified altitudes.