Garmin (Europe) Ltd., a unit of Garmin Ltd., today introduced the GTX 328 Mode S transponder to meet the European regulation for Mode S implementation for VFR (visual flight rules) aircraft by 31st March 2008.
"We developed the GTX 328 to satisfy Europe's requirement for a Mode S solution that would meet the reduced certification requirements for the VFR Mode S mandate,"Â said Steve Gubbins, Garmin's international avionics sales manager. "The GTX 328 unit offers the same great value, reliability and innovation that pilots and aircraft owners have come to know from Garmin - and it's at an affordable price."Â
By optimizing the best selling features and industry-leading technology of the GTX 330 Mode S Transponder, Garmin is able to offer customers the GTX 328, a lower cost Mode S solution that meets the European regulations.
- The GTX 328 is intended to serve VFR/Class 2 aircraft where there is adequate size and power consumption support for a GTX 328 unit. The GTX 328 is designed to be a straightforward retrofit.
- The GTX 328 has an easy-to-use pilot interface, high-contrast LCD display, and user-friendly keypad featuring a dedicated VFR button.
- The GTX 328 retains many of the GTX 330 features such as displaying outside air temperature, altitude monitoring, count up and count down timers (using a built-in digitized voice annunciator to alert the pilot when preset altitude limits have been exceeded or timer expiration), density altitude functions, and front-panel input for flight ID.
- The GTX 328 has a solid-state design that uses less power, reduces heat emissions and eliminates warm-up time.
Pilots familiar with Garmin avionics will notice that the GTX 328 is built on the same receiver and transmitter technology as the best-selling GTX 330. The existing GTX 330 Mode S Transponder provides TIS (Traffic Information Services), EHS (Enhanced Mode S) functionality, and transmits power that exceeds the requirement for VFR aircraft in Europe. The new GTX 328 will not offer TIS, EHS or ADS-B functionality.
Garmin anticipates GTX 328 certification in April 2007, with initial shipments beginning in late April 2007. The GTX 328 Mode S lower cost transponder has a suggested list price of $2,995 - Garmin.
Posted February 2nd, 2007 by Nymphadora
