FIG. 4
With all this said, what does Garmin do well — and what could be improved? First, let’s talk about what Garmin does well. Garmin made the attitude indicator big and prominent, which makes it easy to see and interpret. Synthetic vision is available in many products, but is unfortunately not standard across G500H installations. The pilot also has some level of control over information density such as maps and weather information. Active autopilot functions, current altitude, heading, airspeed, and “bugs” for heading and altitude are bordered and highlighted for easy recognition.
Lastly, what could Garmin improve? Research showed that an attitude indicator with a stationary horizon and a moving aircraft resulted in faster recognition of attitude and faster recovery (Muller et al., 2017) (Fig. 4). Garmin, however, uses the more common moving horizon. While the Garmin display is customizable and fairly intuitive, many pilots do not know how to set display modes, preferences, and information layout to achieve the largest benefit. A solution would be to create predefined display modes for VFR (local), VFR (cross-country), and IFR. This would allow both the casual and professional aviator to get the most out of the display possibilities without needing a “Human Factors” degree.
The Garmin G500 delivers information to the pilot in a compact display that represents many psychological, physiological, and
regulatory refinements that have led to a product that is both user- friendly and effective. The improvements suggested would be a minor change in how it is used, but could improve a pilot’s ability to safely achieve and maintain situational awareness quickly or while under stress. While there are always advances to be made and improvements to be found, this display shows an example of a human-considered PFD that I believe to be a great product.
Ray Schumacher is an ATP and CFII rated helicopter pilot with experience in both Part 141 and Part 135 management, and currently sits as an assistant professor of aeronautical science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
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Sep/Oct 2023
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