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Garmin G1000® Flight Deck Upgrade Receives EASA Approval for Industry-Leading Safety Enhancements and Global Datalink Capabilities

Dépèche transmise le 24 octobre 2011 par Business Wire

OLATHE, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today that it has received the European Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) validation of the U.S. Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the installation of Garmin’s Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP) and Iridium datalink in G1000-equipped King Air 200 and B200 models. These technologies offer pilots unique safety-enhancing capabilities such as stability augmentation, an onboard worldwide datalink weather solution and a variety of voice and data services.

“Garmin remains committed to expanding our industry-leading technologies throughout Europe”

“Garmin remains committed to expanding our industry-leading technologies throughout Europe,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin’s vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “With the recent EASA validation, King Air operators in Europe may now equip their aircraft with Garmin ESP™ stability augmentation, and integrate worldwide weather, text messaging and satellite phone capabilities to give them the tools that enhance the situational awareness and productivity of every flight.”

Garmin ESP is an electronic monitoring and exceedance-correcting technology for Garmin integrated flight decks that seamlessly works in the background during flight. It assists the pilot in maintaining the aircraft in a safe, flight stable condition, helping in certain situations to prevent the onset of stalls and spins, steep spirals or other loss-of-control conditions should the pilot become distracted, disoriented or incapacitated. Garmin ESP gently nudges the controls back toward stable flight whenever pitch, roll or high-speed deviations exceed the recommended limits, and will then disengage when the aircraft returns to its normal flight.

The STC also includes approval for Garmin’s Iridium-based transceiver, the GSR 56, which gives access to worldwide weather that informs pilots of METARs, TAFs, and winds aloft around the globe. RADAR, satellite imagery, lightning, SIGMET and AIRMET data is also available in select countries throughout Europe.

In addition to the worldwide weather capabilities, the GSR 56 offers an Iridium voice and data service (subscription required) that lets pilots or passengers make worldwide Iridium-based calls or send and receive text messages while in-flight or on the ground. From the cockpit, the dialing interface is provided through the multi-function display (MFD) and incoming call messages are prioritized with other aural messages.

Each of these technologies integrates with the G1000 avionics suite, which is available as a flight deck upgrade for the King Air 200 and B200 models. Installation of the G1000 system dramatically modernizes the King Air’s panel and meets current European regulatory requirements including 8.33 kHz VHF Comm channel spacing, FM immunity, B-RNAV, P-RNAV, RVSM, Mode S Elementary Surveillance (ELS), Mode S Enhanced Surveillance (EHS), ADS –B (Automatic Dependant Surveillance Broadcast), and TAWS Class B.

The G1000 integrated flight deck integrates all primary flight information, navigation data, communications, terrain awareness, traffic, weather, and engine instruments on a large 15-inch multi-function display (MFD) and two 10.4-inch primary flight displays (PFD). The G1000 installation on the King Air 200/B200 includes the GFC 700™ three-axis, fully digital, dual channel, fail passive automatic flight control system (AFCS). The GFC 700 features best in class performance and features including coupled space based augmentation system (SBAS) approaches such as LNAV/VNAV and LPV.

King Air owners interested in bringing these industry leading capabilities to their aircraft should contact an authorized Garmin G1000 upgrade dealer.

Garmin’s aviation business segment is a leading provider of solutions to both OEM and aftermarket customers. Garmin’s portfolio includes navigation, communication, flight control, surveillance, and other products that are known for innovation, reliability, and value. Behind every product is Garmin’s top ranking worldwide product support and service network. Garmin offers solutions for Part 23, Part 25, and Part 27 certificated aircraft as well as solutions for experimental and light sport aircraft.

About Garmin

Garmin International Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation. Since 1989, this group of companies has designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications – most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin’s products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at www.garmin.com/pressroom or contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200. Garmin and G1000 are registered trademarks, and Garmin ESP and GFC 700 are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.

All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Notice on Forward-Looking Statements:

This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 25, 2010, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). A copy of such Form 10-K is available at www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.