Diamond Ready To Deliver Garmin Synthetic Vision

Diamond Aircraft has already installed Garmin's G1000-based Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT), and it will be unveiled at Sun 'n Fun today at 3 p.m. at the Diamond display. Garmin announced the system had been certified on Monday, and Diamond CEO Peter Maurer said his company wanted to waste no time in showing its capabilities. A Diamond DA40 with the system installed will be on display at the announcement. "With Diamond having been the launch platform for the Industry Standard G1000, it is only appropriate that we continue to lead by introducing this most modern of safety enhancements to general aviation," said Maurer. The system is being offered as an option for less than $10,000, which Maurer noted is a small fraction of the price of synthetic vision on some business jets.

The system provides a 3D depiction of terrain and hazards on the PFD with a clear view of water land and sky. If it senses a hazard, it colors the offending terrain in the appropriate TAWS colors and obstacles grow larger as they get closer. Traffic is also depicted and the system includes highway-in-the-sky type "flying rectangles" that give the pilot an intuitive course to follow on all phases of flight. Garmin, which is also displaying the system at its booth, says the system is a breakthrough for GA. "SVT transforms the cockpit by accurately displaying synthetic terrain, flight hazards, flight path marker and highway-in-the-sky on the PFD so that the pilot maintains excellent airborne situational awareness even when flying in conditions of reduced visibility or darkness," said Garmin spokesman Gary Kelley. "This results in reduced pilot workload and safer flying." The system is available immediately on new aircraft and retrofits are being worked out.