![]()
After Garmin received FAA certification in July to install Garmin Autoland and Garmin Autothrottle to the retrofit market for King Air 200 series aircraft, installations began in late 2023. The delivery of the first King Air 200 series with the retrofit was delivered to Pollard Aircraft Sales, Inc. just in time for Christmas and now other aircraft are being given the same safety upgrade.RELATED: Check out the first aftermarket King Air 200 equipped with Garmin Autoland and Autothrottle - listed on GlobalAir.com
Blackhawk Aerospace Technologies announced in late December that it had successfully flown the first Garmin G1000 NXi Autoland and Autothrottle retrofit. Pollard Aircraft received the very first aftermarket King Air 200 equipped with the enhanced Autoland and Autothrottle safety features, enjoying multiple flights before Christmas. Pollard Aircraft Sales Director Tim Layton discussed the inaugural delivery with GlobalAir.com. Layton shared that Pollard received the very first Autoland system, installed by Blackhawk in a 1999 King Air B200 (N720AM), listed on GlobalAir.com. He shared that the plane returned to service and was flown numerous times before the holidays.Photo from Blackhawk Aerospace Technologies LinkedIn post
On Wednesday Elliot Aviation announced it had completed its first Garmin Autoland upgrade in a King Air 200 series aircraft. The company completed the upgrade to a King Air B200. "We are thrilled to deliver our first Garmin Autoland upgrade in a King Air B200," Elliot Aviation CEO Dan Edwards said. "Safety is always our top priority, and the Garmin Autoland system represents a groundbreaking advancement in aviation technology. This achievement reflects our team's expertise and commitment to providing our customers with the latest and most advanced avionics solutions."RELATED STORIES:Garmin Autoland and Autothrottle certified for retrofit installations in select King Air aircraftBeechcraft Denali to get Garmin Emergency Autoland; certification now pushed to 2025
The Garmin Autoland and Autothrottle features became available for G1000 NXi-equipped King Air 200 series aircraft, followed by select King Air 300 series aircraft, in July 2023. This was the first certification for the G1000 NXi and the full integration of the features will reduce crew workload in the cockpit by managing the speed and power of the aircraft and providing engine protection against possible engine exceedances. In an emergency, if the crew is unable to perform their duties, the Garmin Autoland will take over control of the aircraft, landing the plane without human intervention. The Autothrottle feature keeps the power levels in the right power setting, removing the risk of threat from a potential throttle rollback. These power settings are based on manufacturer or user-configurable climb, cruise and descent schedules, including ITT limits.
The retrofit is currently available for King Air 200 series aircraft and Garmin said the improvements are expected to be available for the King Air 300 series aircraft in 2024. The features are currently certified on the G3000-equipped Piper M600 SLS, Daher TBM 940/960 models and the Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet. Garmin has also announced future certifications for the G3000-equipped Beechcraft Denali and HondeJet Elite II aircraft.