LONG BEACH, Calif., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Garmin International
Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), today announced at the Aircraft
Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Expo that the company has achieved
another milestone in satellite-based navigation. Earlier this month, the
Garmin GNS 480 earned the industry's first TSO C146a Gamma-3 certification,
which enables pilots to fly Localizer-Precision with Vertical (LPV) guidance
approaches and receive primary-means GPS navigation via the Wide Area
Augmentation System (WAAS).
Ten years ago, Garmin was the first avionics manufacturer to demonstrate
the Initial Operating Capability of the Global Positioning System (GPS) by
certifying the GPS 155 TSO(TM) for non-precision GPS approaches in IFR
conditions.
"In 1994, we proved that pilots could rely on satellite navigation for IFR
operations and that event has changed the course of aviation," said Gary
Kelley, Garmin's director of marketing. "We believe certification of the GNS
480 for LPV approaches is equally significant, because it provides pilots with
primary GPS guidance during all phases of flight and opens the possibility of
shooting an ILS-like approach into thousands of airports that are not
currently served by an ILS."
As the first panel-mount avionics system approved for LPV approach
operations, the GNS 480 meets the highest level of certification for WAAS
navigation. The GNS 480 utilizes satellite-based navaids for precise lateral
and vertical approach guidance -- similar to Instrument Landing System (ILS)
operations -- without the need for ground-based navaids of any kind. The
Gamma-3 level of certification makes the GNS 480 the only WAAS navigator
approved to fly the FAA's new LPV approaches. The FAA has begun to deploy
these new landing procedures, which will support instrument approaches with
lateral and vertical guidance using the most stringent standards.
The GNS 480 has an innovative 15-channel WAAS receiver that updates the
aircraft's position at a rate of five times per second. Like Garmin's other
integrated avionics, the GNS 480 provides oceanic-approved IFR GPS/NAV/COM
functionality and VOR/ILS capabilities -- but does so on a 3.8-inch
(diagonal), 256-color moving-map display.
Approved for installation on more than 700 aircraft, the GNS 480 is
currently available at a suggested retail price of $11,995.
Garmin International Inc. is a member of the Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN)
group of companies, which designs and manufactures navigation, communication
and information devices -- most of which are enabled by GPS technology.
Garmin is a leader in the general aviation and consumer GPS markets and its
products serve aviation, marine, outdoor recreation, automotive, wireless and
OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and its
principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United
Kingdom. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at
http://www.garmin.com/pressroom or contact the Media Relations department at
913-397-8200. Garmin is a registered trademark, and GNS 480 and GPS 155 TSO
are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.
Notice on forward-looking statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and
its business. Any statements regarding the company's product introductions and
expected product availability dates are forward-looking statements. The
forward-looking events discussed in this release may not occur and actual
results could differ materially as a result of risk factors affecting Garmin,
including (but not limited to) risk factors listed in the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2003 filed by Garmin with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). A copy
of Garmin's Form 10-K can be downloaded from
http://www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html .
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