Piper Meridian to Feature New Garmin Nav/Com

Piper has picked the GNS 530, Garmin's newest nav/com, as standard equipment for its Malibu Meridian turboprop single. The 4.3-inch-by-6.25-inch GNS 530 is the larger version of the GNS 430, which Garmin introduced in April. The 530 features a five-inch diagonal LCD, versus the four-inch display on the 430. The architecture used in the 530 multi-function display (MFD) also provides greater expansion capability.

The heart of the 530 is an integrated IFR GPS/COM/VOR/LOC and glideslope tied to a full-color moving map display and a Jeppesen database. The 12-parallel-channel GPS will be certificated under WAAS TSO C146 for standalone approach procedures. The 530's database is accessed through a front-loadable data card, and contains all airports, navaids, intersections and FSSes, approach, SID/STAR and SUA information, as well as 1,000 user-specified waypoints.

The GNS 530's VHF com offers a choice of 25 KHz or 8.33 KHz spacing for 760 or 2,280 channels, and the nav side provides a 200-channel ILS/LOC/VOR.

The new nav/com will accompany the Garmin GTX 327 transponder, GMA 340 audio panel and GI 106 CDI.

By Mal Gormley