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

Leonardo Helicopters AW109, AW109C, AW109 Grand, AW109 GrandNew, AW109 Trekker, AW109 Power, and AW109 K2, also Agusta A109 and A109 Power

Matt Thurber

Garmin’s GFC 600H helicopter flight control system (HFCS) has been enhanced with the addition of a stability augmentation system (SAS), which qualifies it for IFR configuration. The first helicopter to incorporate the IFR-configured GFC 600H is Leonardo’s AW109 Trekker, which has received EASA approval—to be followed by FAA certification.
The GFC 600H IFR configuration adds collective control, making it a 4-axis HFCS and also the first time collective control has been available with that Garmin autopilot. The IFR GFC 600H includes GFS 83 smart servos in four axes and one GLA 85 smart linear actuator each for pitch, yaw, and roll. This eliminates the need for dual linear actuators in each axis and flight control computers, according to Garmin, “resulting in a digital system that is lightweight and cost-effective while still providing the redundancy required for IFR flight.” Control of the HFCS is with a console-mounted, NVG-compatible GMC 605H mode controller.
Autopilot modes include altitude acquire and hold, approach auto-level, radar height hold, vertical speed, indicated airspeed, heading select, attitude hold, and level mode for return to straight-and-level flight during inadvertent entry into instrument meteorological conditions or to avoid disorientation in degraded visual environments. The GFC 600H can also fly various instrument approach procedures using appropriate navigation inputs.
The addition of collective control helps the pilot manage power and adds “functions that can enhance safety and reduce pilot workload,” according to Garmin. This includes flying hands-off the controls during cruise, transition to hover, and hovering. The HFCS incorporates safety features such as low height protection, which “can help prevent controlled descent into terrain by automatically raising the collective to reduce descending vertical speed.” It also enables power limiting by lowering the collective to prevent engine exceedances. Garmin’s Helicopter Electronic Stability and Protection is also part of the original GFC 600H and helps keep the helicopter inside a safe envelope when hand-flying.
Garmin also recently unveiled new slimline com and navcom radios designed for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, with a 1.3-inch bezel height and full-color liquid-crystal displays. The GTR 205 com radio comes standard at 10-watt power output with optional 16 watts and NVG compatibility. The radio allows pilots to monitor a standby frequency while remaining on the active frequency. It also has a built-in timer, worldwide frequencies with memory and instant recall, and the ability to search the frequency database by airport identifier.
The GNC 215 navcom has the same radio features as the GTR 205 plus VHF nav, VOR/ILS with localizer and glideslope, navaid lookup, and automatic station ID.
Retail price of the GTR 205 is $2,695 and GNC 215 is $5,295.

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