Garmin G530/430 and G530W/G430W

The GNS430 and GNS530 units have been on the market for quite some time both as new aircraft original equipment and as aftermarket retrofit systems.  While viewed as GPS units, they are in fact, very capable flight management systems when integrated to take fullest advantage of their capabilities.  They come with Com/Nav radios, GPS navigation, database storage and retrieval, a host of built in functions that can provide you with information and answers, calculate solutions to time, distance, range and endurance problems, winds, density altitude and a host of other things.  When coupled with your digital autopilot they can provide course and tracking inputs, vertical navigation, turn anticipation and other functions that support flight automation.  Each unit has a built in moving map as one of the displays available through the Nav chapter.  In short, they are very capable units and work very well with other digital equipment or as stand-alone units.

Basic cockpit management training focuses on the essential components and functions of these integrated systems including the navigation features and capabilities, data storage and retrieval, built in tools, set-up and user creatable features such as unique waypoints or electronic checklists, schedulers and timer along with flight timer and “what-if” capabilities.  These units can be coupled with and display information from units such as terrain awareness, traffic awareness systems, lightning detection, weather depiction.  They can also output to larger multifunction displays to provide a larger screen view.  But, at their hearts, they are very capable communication and navigation radios combined with GPS navigation systems.

Getting the most out of your system means understanding how it works, what it does, how you interface with it and so forth.  At the conclusion of this training, you will have a working knowledge of your system.  You will be able to:

• find and enter frequencies from the stored databases;
• program store and activate flight plans;
• enter changes to active or stored flight plans;
• use the GPS side to intercept and track VOR radials;
• intercept and track specific bearings to/from any waypoint; 
• create “runway extensions” to make lining up with the runway easier;
• load and active IFR procedures (departure, arrival and approach);
• use basic setup features;
• set the displayed time (local versus UTC);
• creating and storing your own waypoints;
• what VNAV is and how to use it;
• how to change displayed data blocks on the various screens and more.

The focus of this training is on ensuring that you have a solid understanding of basics needed to operate your GNS unit whether it is a 430, 430W, 530 or 530W.  Beyond these normal procedures, training covers abnormal and emergency procedures - what to do when things don’t work properly.

Additional training designed to encompass any additional systems your airplane contains is available as desired.  Many of these systems are mostly automatic providing information via the moving map display with little inflight activity needed other than knowing how to get to it.  Other components take a bit more effort creating the potential need for pilot training to get full utilization out of it.

All of these components require practice, repeated use and, on occasion, some follow-up refresher training.  These gadgets provide us with a wealth of information and, as they become second nature, they become true safety enhancing systems.  Wright Aviation has the knowledge and experience to help you build a solid foundation and accelerate your learning.  We cover the critical areas and provide you with ongoing support as you gain experience managing your technically advance aircraft cockpit.

For more information, call me at 480-203-0599 or send me an email at info@wrightaviation.net.