It didn’t take long for competitors to introduce synthetic-vision system (SVS) avionics enhancements after Garmin last spring removed the cloak of secrecy from its long-anticipated synthetic-vision technology (SVT) upgrade for the G1000 avionics system. But apart from releasing product brochures and showing prototype hardware, two chief rivals in the market for general aviation SVS–Avidyne of Lincoln, Mass., and L-3 Avionics Systems in Grand Rapids, Mich.–couldn’t hope to match Garmin’s speed to market.
Both manufacturers are still working toward certification even as the Garmin system is appearing in the cockpits of everything from Diamond’s DA40 piston single to Cessna’s Citation Mustang. The head start puts these competitors at a disadvantage, but strong adoption of SVS technology should mean there’s room for a number of players–or at least there will be after the economy starts coming back.
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