The long-expected discontinuation of maintenance support for Garmin’s iconic GNS 430/530 series navigators has taken a big step. The company has posted a service advisory telling customers that “display repairs for the WAAS and Non-WAAS GPS 400, GNC 420, and GNS 430 are no longer available and have been discontinued.”
In a statement sent to AVweb sister publication Flying, Garmin advised “due to multiple component availability limitations, comprehensive repair service for Garmin’s GNS 430/530 series is estimated to become limited in the years ahead. This includes all GPS/Com and GPS-only variants, as well as all WAAS [wide-area augmentation system] models. Initially these limitations are estimated to impact a small percentage of repairs in 2024.”
The GNS 430/530 series, introduced in 1998, has now been out of production for 13 years. But in the meantime, Garmin said, it will continue to provide service as long as it has the components needed in stock. But be forewarned, if Garmin must return a unit as “unrepairable due to the announced unavailability of repair parts,” there will be a $500 processing fee, per unit.
Did you write this up on a typewrite and then have your grand-kid “put it in the computer”? Twenty-six year old design. How dare they not buy the IP for the ancient components and fab them themselves. That would have been a real winning business strategy.
“Did you write this up on a typewrite and then have your grand-kid “put it in the computer”? Twenty-six year old design.”
The article said it has been out of production for 13 years, not that it’s a 13 year old design.
How about introduced in 1998?
I’ve owned different GPS/NAV/COM units, and the GNS430W is my absolute favorite! The Garmin GNS 430W revolutionized aviation with its all-in-one GPS/VOR/LOC/ILS/COM/TAWS features. Sold over 100,000 units worldwide continuing to remain as a reliable and practical choice in general aviation. It’s a bit sad to see such a fantastic unit fading away. Kudos to Garmin for their amazing avionics innovation!
$500 return because we can’t fix it. Sounds reasonable. Thanks Garmin for making me buy a new unit.
“As with Apple iPhone users, the owners of the legacy Garmin navigators are encouraged to update and upgrade to more modern equipment.”
These products aren’t comparable to phones. It’s upwards of $30,000 to upgrade one’s primary navigator after installation, calibration, testing and troubleshooting.
To h**** with Garmin.
Someone please tell me another company that offers to keep their ancient technology*, long-discontinued products in perfect working condition indefinitely. Anyone? The fact that Garmin has supported these products for 13 years after they stopped making them is admirable, and should not be rewarded with griping about their failure to continue to do so longer.
I just bought a plane with a G530W, and the screen is showing signs of deterioration. Am I happy about it? No. Do I blame Garmin for not making it possible for me to get it fixed? Heck no!
*Any electronic product that was designed in 1998 is, without question, ancient technology. Apple no longer supports the ipads they sold just 6 years ago, as but one example.
“Someone please tell me another company that offers to keep their ancient technology, long-discontinued products in perfect working condition indefinitely.”
Exactly, and it’s not like we didn’t see this coming. Garmin had even provided notice a few years ago that parts availability for the 430/530 was becoming scarce and that at some point in the near future they would have to discontinue support for them.
It’s not really even Garmin that can be blamed here. As with virtually all manufacturers, they don’t custom-design every single component, so they are reliant upon outside vendors. This is not unique to the aviation industry, either; it’s quite common-place in all industries.
The only real complaint is the $500 “processing fee”, which seems a bit excessive and punitive.
A comment that, undoubtedly, carries good sense, Mr. Brian Smith
Bose Headphones
Craftsman Tools
Cutco Knives
Eddie Bauer
Leupold Optics
LL Bean
Kimber Firearms
Smith & Wesson Firearms
The North Face
Skullcandy Headphones
Stanley Tools
Victorinox
Vortex Optics
Check again, Mike. Off the top of my head I can tell you that Eddie Bauer and LL Bean have stopped honoring their once-lifetime warranties, Craftsman is difficult to get support for ever since Sears went belly up, and Bose definitely isn’t lifetime. As Brian said, good luck finding anyone who will keep supporting their products indefinitely. Even Leatherman went from lifetime to 25 years not too long ago.
I fly planes equipped with 530W and others with the GTN750. And, with all their limitations, absolutely prefer the 430/530 series units.
Yes, the 650/750 offer a better screen, more ways to interact with the unit and more features, but I like the tactile feel of the 430/530, and – call me silly – but I like that the FPL page on those 26yo units knows to scroll and keep showing me my active leg…. unlike the 650/750, in which your active leg disappears off the bottom of the screen as your flight progresses.
Rant over. However, as others have also said, I can mourn -but can’t fault- Garmin for winding down their support.
“I like that the FPL page on those 26yo units knows to scroll and keep showing me my active leg…. unlike the 650/750, in which your active leg disappears off the bottom of the screen as your flight progresses.”
I have never seen that issue. The flight plan page on the 650s I’ve used all keep the active leg at the top of the screen as the flight progresses. It’s possible your issue is only on certain software revisions, so a trip to your avionics shop should be able to update it to the latest and fix that issue. It definitely should not be doing that.
Good to hear, thanks! I’ll resume pestering the owner to have his GTN750s looked-at/updated.
I really like the Garmin GNS 430W series; it works well for both IFR and VFR use. However, I’m frustrated with how Garmin is handling things. Even though Garmin has a well earned reputation for innovative designs, their approach minimizing support to the 2006 upgraded GNS 430W has left me dissatisfied. I prefer the older model, especially in “bumpy” weather, where buttons are more ppractical than touch screens.
Comparing upgrading avionics to getting a new iPhone doesn’t jive. The cost of newer avionics is a significant, unnecessary expense, often exceeding $25,000, not to mention the downtime for the aircraft. I feel it’s a rip-off for Garmin to stop supporting the 2006 GNS 430W, forcing users into expensive upgrades by what can be perceived as busting balls. The $500 fee for returning units that can’t be fixed just adds to the irritation. Many customers, like me, aren’t happy with Garmin’s decisions, and some are considering alternatives from non-Garmin brands.
Five years ago I took Avidyne up on their trade in offer. Gave them my 530 got back an Avidyne 550. It takes a little adjusting to the different logic, but all said, it operates like a technologically superior piece of equipment.
You might see that trade in offer come up again.
The introduction of new avionics in aviation brings a learning curve, requiring practical training for pilots and flight instructors. It’s crucial for gaining hands-on, safe experience and fluency with the updated systems, especially in IFR. However, the issue of training and aircraft use costs for these new gadgets (avionics) is seldom discussed. Add nther five grand to the project?
They have a trade in offer now. Don’t know how significant it is.
I ugraded my GNS430 5 years ago to an IFD440. It was a direct slide in replacement with no panel tear up like the new Garmin units. Just take pictures of your settings in the 430 before you pull the unit.
The Avidyne is a really nice upgrade over the 430.
I am looking at the Avidyne 540/550 to replace my GNS 530W. It is a slide in replacement and unlike Garmin, has no issues talking to my Aspen or Stec A/P. I too am very disappointed in how Garmin is handling this, but it helps make my decision on sunsetting the 530W.
I agree with most of the commenters.
A few years ago I replaced my 430’s with Avidyne IFD440, and I miss terribly the old units, after logging several hundred hours on the IFD’s.
The 430 did what I told it to do, when I told it to do it. The 440 does what it thinks I want, which oftentimes, is not what I want it to do, and often I do not have the option to change it. I hate trying to do some routine operation and have to say teh dreaded “why does it do that”? or “Why doesn’t it do that”? T
I understand Garmin. However I think that if a company says it will stop supporting something – they should release the product – repair, drawings, source code, patent rights (as related to the unsupported product). etc. – to the public. This way some good entrepreneur can form a company that will maintain units that the public want until the owner will decide to get rid of it. I believe that lots of money can be made in such venture.
With parts becoming unavailable, there is no ability to maintain the units. If anyone could make money maintaining the units, Garmin would keep doing so, which they have for 13 years.
As for the IFD series vs. the GNS, I come down on the side of the IFD. I have been using and instructing with the GNS, IFD, and GTN GPS/FMS devices. I find the IFD much easier to use, especially when ATC throws me a curve with an amended routing or suddenly telling me to enter a hold while I am just about at the FAF on an approach.
Regardless, they ARE very different and if your brain is happy with the way the GNS-4xx/5xx does things, it is going to have to relearn the IFD, and that takes time and effort. I put in the time and effort and feel it was worth it.
I installed my GNS430W late when I moved to an airport that only had RNAV approaches. It’s been in the plane for 6 years and was purchased new and unused in the box in 2017 for a good price. The main reason I stuck to the old stuff was Garmin’s database prices until I needed the capability. I still have the old stuff in the cockpit with a shiny new Dynon Skyview HDX and the GNS430W navigator, my backup for GPS spoofing/jamming. The Dynon chart databases are reasonably priced, and 1/10 the cost of Garmin. Garmin’s equivalent system was triple the Dynon price, and a substantial difference in ongoing subscription and maintenance costs. Garmin has sold a lot of these and there are a lot of them flying now and will continue to be flown. When it comes time to replace the IFR navigator, it will not be a Garmin.
We wouldn’t be seeing this heartburn if there were other vendors able to repair these devices, but that would require Garmin to publish the specifications for things such as screens. They got everybody hooked on the 430 and 530 and they know everyone will have to run back to Daddy Garmin when it dies because only they and Avidyne have the cash to get an IFR GPS approved.
Yep, there’s a definite high cost of entry that keeps the prices up and the volumes down and the competition away.
The FAA has over regulated themselves into easy jobs and regular paychecks.
It seems to me the important thing is how long someone can expect such an important and expensive system will last and how much the it will cost during that time.
By that standard, a LOT of modern manufacturers are failing their customers.
I think Garmin could have saved some customer goodwill by saying, If you send in a unit that is not repairable due to parts availability, there will be a $500 charge. That charge will be applied towards the purchase of a replacement Garmin product if you choose to do so.”
Or even, “That charge will be waived if you replace the un-repairable radio with a new Garmin product.”
As many 430/530s are out there and how much people (including me) love them, Avidyne should see a growing market for a plug in replacement.
👍👍👍
“Planned obsolescence” benefits Garmin and the avionic shops, not the customer. Simply put, it’s not a win-win.
That is true but Garmin did not produce the parts that are no longer made and Garmin can’t replicate.
Garmin, having defined the screen specifications in the past, especially now, is quite capable of doing so again and even improving upon them using advanced technology from another source. Leave the nox alone, improve the guts-upgrade-done deal.
*box
Garmin won the race. Avidyne was close, but a viable follower. I bested them both, after having flown both, with installation of the marvelous Chelton EFIS.
For the winner? I’m guessing their revenue from their G1000, G3000, G5000, etc. are sufficient to propel them to continuing success. Few 430/530 owners are in this market.
For their old owners of 430/530 units? It would be nice if everything lasted forever.
Who is going to engineer, develop, test, and set up manufacturing for replacement screens??? For the size of the market? It was likely an off the shelf screen, that hasn’t been using since about 2000, other than for GNS navigators.
No love for Garmin’s customer service here. I purchased a Mooney in late 2010 and installed a brand new 530W as part of the purchase. Of course I paid for the 530W and before the shop could install it, the next generation of 650/750s were announced in March 2011 and it was too late to switch. Fast forward 3 years and 3 months and the screen on my brand new 530W navigator went dark on a multi-state cross country flight with the family. I’m thinking it’s only a couple months past the 3-year warranty, surely they’ll cover this. Nope, had to pay the (at the time) $1,500 flat fee for a 530W screen replacement, plus shipping, R&R, downtime. Not a happy customer given that was ~10% of the cost of a new one after only 3 years. Thankfully, it’s worked fine ever since, but of course it’ll probably go out again, since I’ve written this note.
While I understand both sides of this coin, as an operator with about a dozen of these units I am quite distressed over this – I tried to service one of my 430’s that needs a screen last month (and they promised we would be OK until mid-2024) and got the big ‘kick-back’…. So, with that many units out there, it seems like an opportunity for a PMA screen part to be made by someone enterprising – unless Garmin has made them un-serviceable AND the data also proprietary – hey Garmin, give us a way out ! We’ve been loyal….