Page 18 - TNTMay18

Some features of the GFC 600 that I came to appreciate as it relates to the Twin & Turbine market:
Ease of Operation
For any pilot that currently operates Garmin equipment, the GFC 600 will be super-intuitive. Any pilot current with the G1000 (which has the GFC700 autopilot) will find the GFC 600 nearly identical operationally (although the buttons are in different places). For any pilot f lying other equipment, the GFC 600 will have an incredibly short learning curve.
Go Around Button
This is probably my favorite safety feature on the GFC 600. Safety feature? Yes, I think it is a safety feature! In re- current training, I see the Go Around fumbled by many pilots, and the GFC 600 makes the Go Around easy.
Simply push the Go Around Button on the throttle/power-lever and the autopi- lot switches both pitch and roll modes by pitching smoothly up and establish- ing wings level. The pilot then advanc- es the throttle/power-lever and cleans up the airplane. The autopilot never disengages throughout the maneuver. I was amazed at the simplicity of a Go Around with the GFC 600.
Integration with the G500
I’ve found that making autopilot mode changes on the G500 is less-than- intuitive. Most are “left-handed” op- erations (which conf licts with the left hand flying the airplane), the buttons are either “pressed once” or “held” (and many pilots choose the wrong action), and the G500 displays the difference between HDG and GPSS Modes poorly (all of this will make sense if you oper- ate a G500).
With the GFC 600, all of that changes. To change pitch or roll modes, the pilot pushes buttons that are clearly marked on the face of the GFC 600, not the G500. But the G500 interfaces with the GFC 600 and all is very seamless.
Easy-to-Read Display
The left side of the GFC 600 displays the “roll mode” and the right side dis- plays the “pitch mode.” Being easy to read, I sifted through the various modes quickly, not once being confused.
Small Size
The GFC 600 easily fits in your hand and is super-light. It will take up very little panel real estate and might add useful load.
IAS Mode
I think the IAS Mode is the best mode for a safe climb. It virtually elim- inates the potential for a pilot to stall the airplane in a climb. In many of the other autopilots in the Twin & Turbine fleet, the only mode for climb is V/S or pitch-attitude mode. But, the pilot then must control that vertical speed or pitch attitude accurately or the autopi- lot could pitch the airplane to an exces- sive angle of attack and potentially stall the airplane. While in IAS Mode, if the pilot mismanages the power the rate of climb suffers, but the airplane never approaches the stall. Many of the T &T aircraft in the current fleet, especially older airframes, have autopilots that do not have IAS mode. To me, this feature makes the GFC 600 upgrade worth the upgrade if you are flying an autopilot that only has V/S or pitch-attitude mode for the climb.
Under-speed Protection
As the aircraft slows to the bottom of the white arc on the airspeed indica- tor, the GFC 600 will release some back pressure on the yoke and allow the air- plane to “mush” at a slow speed, but not stall. I tested this feature and found it to be a possible life-saver in case a pilot became completely distracted. For now, it’s the nearest thing available in the market that could be described as “stall protection.”
Garmin is appropriately careful to call it “under-speed protection” as op- posed to “stall protection.” but I can see some situations where this feature could be a true life-saver by avoiding the stall. In many other autopilots in
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16 • TWIN & TURBINE
May 2018