Story ID: 
Gulf Coast Avionics Modernizes CJ2 Flight Deck
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: The upgrade brings next-generation capabilities to the 21-year-old aircraft, while easing pilot workload and increasing safety, the company said.
Word Count: 209
Gulf Coast Avionics completed a flight deck upgrade on a 1997 Cessna Citation CJ2, installing dual touchscreen Garmin GTN 750 GPS navcom/MFDs and dual Garmin ADS-B transponders. The upgrade brings next-generation capabilities to the 21-year-old aircraft, while easing pilot workload and increasing safety, the Lakeland, Florida company said.

“This installation is a fantastic example of how an owner can add significant operational, situational awareness, and safety capabilities to a legacy business aircraft without the significant cost and downtime of a total panel upgrade,” said Gulf Coast Avionics president Rick Garcia, who added that the project was completed on time and within budget.

Gulf Coast Avionics worked with the Jettech GTN STC, which Gulf Coast Avionics sales manager Matt Schloss said involved a straightforward upgrade to the legacy analog radios. “Probably the biggest challenge was the integration of the new Garmin avionics with the Citation’s Honeywell EFIS displays and the analog autopilot and weather radar,” he noted.

In addition to the dual GTN 750 units, the upgrade included the Garmin GMA 35c remote audio panel, GTX 345 ADS-B Out/In transponder, GTX 335 ADS-B Out transponder, and Flight Stream 510 Connext interface, along with the fabrication and painting of new metal pilot-side and center instrument panels.