The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have approved the Garmin G5 electronic flight instrument for use in place of an existing directional gyro (DG) or horizontal situational indicator (HSI) in select certified fixed-wing general aviation aircraft.
Initially designed for use with experimental aircraft, the G5 is already approved for use in certified aircraft as a Primary Flight Display (PFD) via Supplemental Type Certificate (STC).
The new approval means the G5 can be considered primary for displaying magnetic heading, VOR/LOC guidance and/or GPS course guidance when paired with select VHF NAV/COMMs or GPS navigators.The approval also includes distance and groundspeed information.
Comprising of a bright, 89-mm sunlight readable LCD, the G5 is approved for installation in place of the aircraft’s existing DG/HSI via a Garmin-held STC for hundreds of certified, fixed-wing aircraft types.
Installing dual G5 electronic flight instruments may also eliminate the need for vacuum systems in aircraft for attitude and heading information.
When paired with the GTN 650/750, GNSÂ 430W/530W, non-WAAS GNS 430/530 or GNS 480 navigators, the G5 is approved as a primary source to display vertical and lateral GPS/VOR/LOC course deviation when available, as well as groundspeed and distance to the next waypoint.
It can also be linked to autopilots like the Century III, Garmin GFC 600 and S-TEC 55X.
The G5 is priced around $US2975.