Common BizAv Cockpit Upgrade Paths: Garmin G5000

In 1989, the late Gary Burrell and Dr Min Kao cofounded Garmin to introduce Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to a wide audience of active lifestyle, marine and aviation users.

As we all know, GPS has provided the engine for global movement and navigation since the early 1990s, and for aviation it supplanted the earlier VLF/Omega low frequency navigation systems. Today the satellite-based GPS compliments the use of terrestrial-based navigation in all phases of flight, and Garmin has played a key role in that evolution.

Garmin quickly realized, however, that in order to capture avionics platforms it needed to develop products beyond GPS.

Over the past 35 years the company has achieved that objective and is the preferred avionics provider for many of today’s General Aviation aircraft, including pistons, turboprops and light to medium size business jets.

Garmin Business Aviation Solutions

Initially, the focus of Garmin Aviation was on light General Aviation Part 23-certified aircraft. It was only much later, after product capability and maturity, that Garmin ventured into the Part 25 turbine market.

Those inroads were quickly embraced by manufacturers seeking to offer new features and a clean cockpit at a competitive price.

Of course, Part 25 airworthiness approval demands a higher level of certification than Part 23, and with more checks and balances along the way, the approval process takes longer.

Among the options available from Garmin for Business Aviation aircraft today are the G5000 flight deck for fixed-wing aircraft (and the G5000H for helicopters), the G3000, the G1000 NXi (G1000H NXi for helicopters) and G950 NXi. Each of these flight decks will feature within this series of articles.

Specifically, this week, the G5000 flight deck is available as an upgrade/retrofit option in the Beechjet 400A, Hawker 400XP, Cessna Citation Excel, XLS, XLS+ and Citation XLS Gen2 (from early 2024). Table A provides an overview of the aircraft types Garmin’s Business Aviation flight deck solutions are flying on.

Transitioning to Garmin G5000

Not all aircraft of the same type are configured identically, and with its G5000 flight deck Garmin offers a solution with options.

If you are considering such a retrofit in your aircraft, you should work closely with your MRO provider who should either be a Textron-owned facility or a Garmin dealer who is authorized to undertake the retrofit.

Moreover, before you sign on to the project make sure that your aircraft is compatible for both the baseline Garmin G5000 system and any options that you select.

Key Garmin G5000 Baseline Functions & Features

The G5000 is designed, and specifically intended for Part 25 aircraft. As such, it provides the following baseline functions:

• Visual flight instrumentation
• Flight management, including navigation
• Communications, audio and surveillance
• Terrain and aircraft avoidance
• Engine/performance indication and crew alerting (EICAS)
• Automatic flight control.

These functions include the following baseline features:

• On screen display of aircraft and engine performance and real-time status
• Dual approach navigation with RNP 0.3, WAAS LPV (LP)/APV (AP) capability
• Dual channel digital flight direction and autopilot
• Current to airspace initiatives and open architecture for future growth
• Compliancy to ADS-B Version 2
• Widescreen displays with reversionary switching and split screen capability
• Touchscreen data entry with intuitive graphical menu interface
• Dual audio and XM radio
• XM weather
• Geo-referenced charts and maps.

Depiction of a Garmin G5000 cockpit configuration

For the Cessna Citation Excel/XLS/XLS+ and XLS Gen 2 (with Phase II upgrade), add the following features are added:

• Steep approaches
• Takeoff and Landing Data (TOLD)
• Reactive windshear
• Stabilized approaches.

Not all the equipment for a Garmin G5000 upgrade is manufactured by Garmin. Any specific additional equipment will be listed under the Supplemental Type Certiifcate (STC) used to approve the aircraft changes. Such additional equipment may include:

• Dual Midcontinent MD302 Standby Instruments
• Third party fuel flow signal conditioner.

Garmin G5000 Upgrade Optional Features

When deciding upon the extent of a Garmin G5000 upgrade, operators have a choice to select from several optional features. Not all options are available to all aircraft, so be sure to ask first if your aircraft is compatible.

Optional features, some of which are enabled via an additional electronic card, include:

• Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT)
• Radar turbulence detection and lightning and hail prediction
• CPDLC – Link 2000, Datalink departure clearance and FANS
• Underspeed protection
• Emergency Descent Mode
• SurfaceWatch
• Chartview
• Connext for the cockpit.

More recently, Garmin has introduced new features that may also be available for your aircraft. Of course, newer features may require an additional path to certification on your aircraft model and serial number, but some may already be in progress or planned. Newer features include:

• GI 275 Digital Standby Instrumentation (alternate to the Midcontinent MD302)
• Head Up Display system (GHD2100)
• Garmin Autoland.

An Overview of Garmin G5000 Equipage

If you’re considering the Garmin G5000 as a possible flight deck retrofit for your aircraft, there are a few considerations to make. 

First and foremost is the extent of the appropriate disruption to your aircraft, including a new cockpit instrument panel, significant changes to remote equipment locations, and a major aircraft rewire.

This understandably will involve the removal of both the cabin and cockpit interior, and here lies the perfect opportunity to upgrade the cabin avionics, entertainment, lighting and interior while also taking the chance to re-rag a tired cockpit trim.

Large savings could be made on engineering, certification, labor, wire routing, equipment location and any new antenna installations when you choose to undertake additional work during the complex G5000 upgrade.

Having the latest avionics will ultimately also add to an aircraft’s resale value while a refreshed paint and interior may also have a profound and immediate visual impact, adding to resale ‘value’.

Continue to read about the Garmin G5000 upgrade path for business aircraft owners and operators in the AvBuyer April digital edition. Click the button below…