Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Cessna Citation 560XL, Excel, XL, XLS, and Ascend

Matt Thurber

In preparation for anticipated supplemental type certificate approval in early 2019, Garmin has added a second aircraft to the development and flight-test program for its G5000 avionics suite upgrade for the Cessna Citation Excel/XLS. The company has already sold out the first 25 positions for the upgrade program and it is offering another pre-STC incentive program for the next customers to sign up for a 2019 delivery. The new incentive is available for up to 15 owners or operators and offers five years of database coverage, a savings of nearly $25,000.

 


“We’re in the home stretch,” said Garmin executive v-p and managing director of aviation Phil Straub. Development and flight testing, he added, “is pretty much done. We’re transitioning into the certification phase.” Garmin and Textron Aviation are collaborating on the testing and certification work, and the upgrade will be offered by Textron Aviation service centers and other Garmin dealers.

 


About 600 Excel/XLS airframes are eligible to upgrade to the G5000 suite, which is expected to cost from $500,000 to $550,000 and cut empty weight by about 200 pounds. The package includes three landscape-oriented displays, two touchscreen controllers, and digital automatic flight control system with emergency descent mode. Underspeed protection is optional and enables fully coupled go-arounds. Also included is ADS-B Out and PBN/RNP 0.3 with LPV/APV approach capability.

 


Other options include Garmin’s synthetic vision technology; SurfaceWatch, which provides runway and taxiway safety information via visual and aural cues; Link 2000+ and controller-pilot datalink communications; datalink weather via Iridium satcom; and Garmin’s Flight Stream 510, which adds Connext wireless cockpit connectivity for flight plan transfer with the Garmin Pilot, FltPlan Go, and ForeFlight apps, as well as Garmin’s Database Concierge for updating onboard databases wirelessly via Garmin Pilot.

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

Garmin Adds Second Jet to Excel/XLS G5000 Program

The G5000 upgrade for the Citation Excel/XLS is expected to be approved in early 2019.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Billund, Denmark-based company will also offer dealer coordination for European customers

Scandinavian Avionics To Support Legacy Nighthawk Systems

Curt Epstein

AIN readers rate avionics, cabin management, and airborne connectivity manufacturers

AIN Product Support Survey 2026: Avionics

Kerry Lynch

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Experts gather to discuss the problems and solutions surrounding GNSS interference

AIN Roundtable—Readying for Potential Navigation Spoofing, Jamming

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Product enables aircraft to work together with no need for satcom or cellular communications

Ciconia C&CAS Demos Coordination, Collision Avoidance

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

New release adds missed approach climb gradient table and climb gradient values on departure procedures

Garmin Expands SmartCharts Reach to Canada and Mexico

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

In this article

Cessna Citation 560XL, Excel, XL, XLS, and Ascend

Textron Aviation

More In Avionics

Scandinavian Avionics To Support Legacy Nighthawk Systems

Billund, Denmark-based company will also offer dealer coordination for European customers

AIN Product Support Survey 2026: Avionics

AIN readers rate avionics, cabin management, and airborne connectivity manufacturers

AIN Roundtable—Readying for Potential Navigation Spoofing, Jamming

Experts gather to discuss the problems and solutions surrounding GNSS interference

Ciconia C&CAS Demos Coordination, Collision Avoidance

Product enables aircraft to work together with no need for satcom or cellular communications

Garmin Expands SmartCharts Reach to Canada and Mexico

New release adds missed approach climb gradient table and climb gradient values on departure procedures

Autoland-equipped Phenom 300EV Gets Trio of Approvals

Light jet now approved by Brazilian, U.S., and European regulators

Klatt Works Adds Gulfstream as Approved SAVED Supplier

Expands availability of company's oxygen-mask head-up display system

Honeywell Expands Guided Visual Approach List to 120

Improves safety when flying into challenging airports

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN