Garmin 650 - User Manual

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Overview

Function Description
Important Technical Specifications
Usage Features
Maintenance Features

The Garmin GTN 650 GPS is an integrated avionics system designed for aircraft, combining GPS navigation, COM radio, and NAV radio functionalities. This document focuses on its basic operation, specifically the COM radio and DirectTo features.

Function Description

The GTN 650 serves as a primary navigation and communication tool in an aircraft. It provides pilots with GPS-guided navigation, allowing for direct-to navigation to waypoints, airports, or points on a flight plan. Concurrently, it integrates a COM radio for air-to-ground and air-to-air communication, and a NAV radio for traditional navigation aids (though the NAV radio features are not detailed in this document). The system is designed to be user-friendly, with a touchscreen interface that displays various flight parameters, maps, traffic, terrain, and weather information.

Important Technical Specifications

While specific technical specifications like dimensions, weight, power consumption, or display resolution are not provided in this document, the GTN 650 is described as a Garmin GTN 650 (GPS) unit. It was installed in VH-BAC in February 2016, indicating its suitability for general aviation aircraft. The system includes a touchscreen display for interaction and integrates with the aircraft's audio panel for microphone control and audio output. It supports various data inputs such as NEXRAD weather and provides real-time flight information including ground speed (GS), distance (DIS), track (TRK), and desired track (DTK). The COM radio operates on standard aviation frequencies, with both active and standby frequencies displayed.

Usage Features

General Operation

The GTN 650 powers on with the aircraft's avionics switch. After displaying a "Continue" button, it presents a home screen with various functions like Map, Traffic, Terrain, Weather, and Message (MSG). The "Home" button allows users to return to this main screen at any time.

COM Radio Usage

The COM radio function is a key feature. The main audio panel, located above the GPS, controls the microphone (MIC). When the audio panel's rotary dial points to C1, the GTN 650's COM radio (Com1) is active for transmission. Pressing the Push-To-Talk button on the aircraft control wheel initiates transmission.

The GPS screen displays two communication radio frequencies: the top one is the active frequency, and the bottom one is the standby frequency.

Frequency Management:

Flipping Frequencies: To swap the active and standby frequencies, the user touches the top (active) frequency on the screen. Repeatedly touching the top frequency will flip them back and forth.
Editing Standby Frequency: Only the bottom (standby) frequency can be edited. Touching the bottom frequency brings up a numerical keypad.
Entering Frequencies: Frequencies are entered using the numerical keypad without a decimal point (e.g., 135.25 is entered as 13525). The "BKSP" button allows for corrections.
Confirming/Canceling Entry: After typing the desired frequency, "Enter" confirms it, making it the new standby frequency. "Back" cancels the entry.
Activating New Standby Frequency: Once a new frequency is entered and confirmed as standby, it can be made active by "flipping" it (touching the top frequency).

DirectTo Feature

The DirectTo function allows pilots to navigate directly to a specific location.

Initiating DirectTo:

The "DirectTo" button is located in the middle of the right-hand side of the GPS unit. Pressing it brings up a screen to select the type of destination.
Destination Types:
- Waypoint (top-most): For NDBs, IFR waypoints, or other defined waypoints.
- Flight Plan (FPL - middle): For locations within the active flight plan (not covered in detail).
- Nearest Airport (NRST APT - bottom): For navigating to a nearby airport.
Selecting a Location: After choosing "Waypoint," a keypad appears. Users type in the code for the desired location (e.g., "KAT" for Katoomba NDB). The keypad displays five letters at a time; touching the alphabet along the bottom cycles through different sets of letters. "BKSP" corrects typing errors.
FastFind: As the code is typed, a "FastFind" window displays matching waypoints. Touching the desired waypoint in this window selects it.
Activating DirectTo: To activate the DirectTo function, the "DirectTo Activate" button (bottom right) is pressed. "Cancel" can be used to abort the process.

Removing a DirectTo Location:

To remove an active DirectTo location, press the "DirectTo" button again.
Then, click "Remove" on the screen.

Overriding a DirectTo:

If a new DirectTo location is entered while another is already active, the most recently entered location takes precedence.

Maintenance Features

The document does not explicitly detail maintenance features. However, the availability of a simulator app for the Apple iPad is highlighted as a valuable tool for "veranda time" – practicing and learning to use the GPS without being in the aircraft. This suggests that familiarization and training are key aspects of maintaining proficiency with the device. The mention of YouTube videos and a user manual also points to resources for operational understanding, which indirectly contributes to proper usage and care.