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EN ROUTEPacific Coast Avionics Upgrades Piper Meridian to Garmin Glass and TouchscreensNew-generation custom panel upgrade includes dual Garmin G500 EFIS units, GTN 750 touch- Dscreen GPS/COM/NAV and GDL 88 ADS-B UATewey Conroy, Pacific Coast Avionics’ Vice President and COO, announced August 3rd that the company has completed a next-generationGarmin panel upgrade on a Piper PA-46-500TP Meridian turboprop.Conroy said that the Meridian is owned by Darren Pleasance, head of customer acquisition for Google. Mr. Pleasance uses his aircraft for business and pleasure trips throughout the U.S. from his home base in San Jose, California.“Darren came to us with the goal of creating an avionics solution that would enable him to fully utilize his Meridian’s capabilities now and well into the future,” Conroy said. “The completed panel speaks for itself. Darren now has an airplane and an avionics suite that will permit him to operate in any airspace or weather with greater capabilities, situational awareness and safety.”“From the first time I saw it, I knew it was everything I had hoped for in my panel upgrade,” Pleasance said. “Whether flying for business or pleasure, my Meridian has always been an excellent airplane, but now, I’d have to say, from an next-generation capabilities standpoint, its avionics are equal to its performance.”Select Airparts Quarter Page 4/C AdConroy explained that the Meridian’s all-new panel features:• Dual Garmin G500 EFIS with Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) • Garmin GTN 750 touchscreen GPS/NAV/COM• Garmin GTX 33/ES Mode S/ADS-B Transponder• Garmin GDL 88 ADS-B Datalink Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) • Garmin FlightStream 210 Bluetooth data streaming device• Mid-Continent Instrument MD-302 SAM 3-in-1 Standby Attitude Module.“From start to finish, the total project took six weeks,” Conroy said. “Along with a custom metal panel, we fabricated new wiring harnesses that integrated all the new avionics and displays with the aircraft’s original Meggitt digital engine displays, as well as other legacy equipment and sensors.“It’s not our first Piper Meridian panel, but it is the first time we’ve done one with dual Garmin 500 disp•lays,” he said. “Everyone involved with Darren’s Meridian upgrade is extremely proud of the way the panel turned out. It’s a really something special.”For more information, visit: www.PCA.aero. T&T OCTOBER 2015Wolcott & Associates Quarter Page4/C AdTWIN & TURBINE • 31