Garmin’s upgrade to the G1000 NXi configuration for Prodigy-equipped Embraer Phenom 100s received FAA approval in early December, and the upgrade is now available for installation by select Garmin dealers and Embraer service centers. Garmin will offer the NXi upgrade for the Phenom 300 equipped with the Prodigy flight deck in the second half of 2020.
The NXi upgrade’s main hardware change is replacement of the displays with new ones containing faster processors, which make panning much smoother and render maps much faster. The LED-backlit displays—which are brighter and clearer, use less power, and offer improved dimming performance—have the same footprint and use the same connectors, so downtime for the installation is minimized.
Phenom 100 owners can take advantage of wireless connectivity features that come with the NXi upgrade. Garmin’s Flight Stream 510 and Connext technology allow for wireless transfer of database updates directly to the avionics from the Garmin Pilot app running on a mobile device. Connext also facilitates two-way flight plan transfer and sharing of traffic, weather, GPS, and back-up attitude information, and this works with the Garmin Pilot, FltPlan Go, and ForeFlight applications wirelessly connected to the NXi avionics.
The HSI map is new for G1000 NXi and displays overlays inside the HSI, such as a moving map and other elements. NXi includes Garmin’s SurfaceWatch runway monitoring technology, which gives aural and visual cues to warn pilots if they are about to take off or land on a taxiway, a runway that is too short, or the wrong runway.
In the procedures listing, pilots can select a visual approach to any runway end, which aids in finding runways and guides pilots on a “more stable descent and precise flight path throughout the approach and landing phases of flight,” according to Garmin. The autopilot can fly the visual approach or the pilot can use flight director guidance.
Other NXi features include split-screen view on the MFD so maps and charts can be displayed simultaneously; display of VFR sectional charts and IFR low/high en route charts; Garmin’s Smart Airspace, which deemphasizes non-pertinent airspace and provides highlights to help the pilot be aware of airspace near the current altitude; 3D audio and advanced auto squelch in the audio panel; and optional Bluetooth connectivity in the audio panel for listening to audio entertainment and making phone calls while wearing a headset; ADS-B In traffic and subscription-free weather; Garmin’s TargetTrend and Terminal Traffic; and optional GWX 75 weather radar, with long-range and high-definition color palette.
