Garmin announced in mid July that certification is “imminent” on a new retrofit kit for its Autoland emergency landing system on certain Beechcraft King Air 200s. While not technically the first retrofit package for Autoland—that honor goes to the upgrade offered by Daher for certain previously delivered 940s—it marks the first supplemental type certificate provided by Garmin directly to the aftermarket.
Initial approvals will be for King Air 200s that have the Garmin G1000 NXi integrated flight deck STC. After approval on the 200 series is secured, Garmin will pursue the nod on similarly equipped King Air 300s as well.
FLYING’s editor-in-chief Julie Boatman had a chance to fly with the new system—including the associated autothrottle in Garmin’s test bed King Air 200 with demonstration pilot Jessica Koss. Watch as the system goes through its activation sequence and performs a creditable landing back at Appleton International Airport (KATW) in Wisconsin.
