Garmin's new aera series gets you there by air or by land
Nov 2, 2009 | 06:16 PM
#1
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From: Zoo York
Garmin's new aera series gets you there by air or by land 
Pilots looking for the hardest-core portable nav unit available tend to flock to Garmin's GPSMAP 696 these days, but there's a problem: the big, bulky tablet doesn't do much good once you're wheels-down and you've got to find your way to the hotel. Enter the new aera series, which you can sorta think of as "nuvi for pilots" with 4.3-inch touchscreens, user-friendly prompts, and dedicated car modes across the board that'll keep casual observers from realizing that your little buddy doubles as a $2,000 beast capable of safely guiding you cross-country at flight level 250. The 696 is still being regarded as Garmin's premier aviation portable, while the four aera models -- the 500, 510, 550, and 560 -- are called "entry or mid-level" with prices ranging from $799 to $1,999 and should finally sunset the aging lower-end GPSMAP models that look like they're straight out of Garmin's GPS III days.
The 510 and 560 throw in XM WX weather support while the 550 and 560 feature Garmin's SafeTaxi interactive airport diagrams, integrated AOPA Airport Directory, and high-end car features pulled from the nuvi line like lane assist and speed limit data. All four models are technically launching on the 5th, but appear to be in stock with online retailers now if you're in a rush.
source [Engadget]
Nov 2, 2009 | 06:19 PM
#2
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From: Zoo York
Garmin Press Release:
OLATHE, Kan./November 2, 2009/BUSINESS WIRE — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today the aera, Garmin’s newest aviation handheld series that is touchscreen and multi-mode so that it can transition between aviation to automotive mode with one touch. The aera series includes four different models – aera 500, aera 510, aera 550 and aera 560 – and all have unprecedented ease of use that is derived from Garmin’s 20 years of expertise in the aviation and automotive markets. The aera product line will be on display and available for purchase for the first time at the Aopa Summit Tampa, Florida, November 5-7, 2009.
“Customers who use Garmin products in their plane and car often ask us to create an all-in-one GPS that combines our aviation expertise with the operational simplicity and clean exterior design of our automotive devices,” said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s vice president of marketing. “Since Garmin is vertically integrated and we do nearly everything in-house, we were able to meet our customers’ requests by leveraging the best features of our consumer and aviation technologies. The aera series will appeal to those who need a low cost aviation handheld that is so simple to use that many will never have to crack open the manual.”
In the air
The aera series has a 4.3 inch QVGA sunlight readable touchscreen display with large, finger-touchable icons. When in aviation mode, pilots are greeted with colorful icons that use intuitive pictures and labels to indicate their function: map, weather, terrain, direct to, HSI/panel, active FPL, numbers, nearest, WPT info, position, XM radio, and tools. Pilots can choose any of these functions by simply touching the appropriate icon. For example, after touching the terrain icon, pilots will see terrain and obstacle data that vividly depicts potential hazards.
The exterior of the aera 500, 510, 550 and 560 are identical, but the software features of each model are tailored to those seeking an entry or mid-level aviation handheld.
OLATHE, Kan./November 2, 2009/BUSINESS WIRE — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today the aera, Garmin’s newest aviation handheld series that is touchscreen and multi-mode so that it can transition between aviation to automotive mode with one touch. The aera series includes four different models – aera 500, aera 510, aera 550 and aera 560 – and all have unprecedented ease of use that is derived from Garmin’s 20 years of expertise in the aviation and automotive markets. The aera product line will be on display and available for purchase for the first time at the Aopa Summit Tampa, Florida, November 5-7, 2009.
“Customers who use Garmin products in their plane and car often ask us to create an all-in-one GPS that combines our aviation expertise with the operational simplicity and clean exterior design of our automotive devices,” said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s vice president of marketing. “Since Garmin is vertically integrated and we do nearly everything in-house, we were able to meet our customers’ requests by leveraging the best features of our consumer and aviation technologies. The aera series will appeal to those who need a low cost aviation handheld that is so simple to use that many will never have to crack open the manual.”
In the air
The aera series has a 4.3 inch QVGA sunlight readable touchscreen display with large, finger-touchable icons. When in aviation mode, pilots are greeted with colorful icons that use intuitive pictures and labels to indicate their function: map, weather, terrain, direct to, HSI/panel, active FPL, numbers, nearest, WPT info, position, XM radio, and tools. Pilots can choose any of these functions by simply touching the appropriate icon. For example, after touching the terrain icon, pilots will see terrain and obstacle data that vividly depicts potential hazards.
The exterior of the aera 500, 510, 550 and 560 are identical, but the software features of each model are tailored to those seeking an entry or mid-level aviation handheld.
Nov 2, 2009 | 11:10 PM
#4
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From: Gobbles Air Force Base
Lots of people do. But, I am not one of them and we incorporate GPS instruction into our Private Pilot syllabus in our flight school.
Nov 3, 2009 | 11:00 AM
#6
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From: Mayamee
Wow that's great. At PFT at executive there is only one or two planes with GPS.
Nov 3, 2009 | 11:11 AM
#7
Full of Win.
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,295
From: Gobbles Air Force Base
I look at it this way. There are still schools out there teaching ADFs of all things. Loran is all but gone and they are talking about losing more and more VORs every year. GPS is a readily available technology that enhances many aspects of flying, not the least of which is safety.
Besides, it's 2009. Almost everyone I've met wanting to learn to fly us looking for GPS in the panel (minimum) if not full glass.
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