Garmin Pilot Goes Global

Posted on July 17, 2014 by admin

Introducing Premium Worldwide Navigation Data, Plus European and Canadian Charts!

Garmin Pilot has expanded to provide worldwide coverage for iPad and iPhone. These features include flight planning capabilities, comprehensive weather coverage and feature-rich navigation for pilots around the globe.

Flight Planning Capabilities

With Garmin Pilot, pilots may review weather, plan their flight, download and review charts all before going to the airport. A combination of both Jeppesen and Garmin’s navigation data is incorporated so planning a flight is simple for pilots around the globe. Highly configurable maps allow pilots to choose between track-up and north-up orientation while in-flight.

Comprehensive Weather

METARs, TAFs, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, NOTAMs and winds aloft are displayed graphically around the world as on overlay on the moving map page, within the airport information page and as a widget in split-screen mode. Text-based weather products are also available and can be seen in split-screen mode and using the NavTrack feature, allowing pilots to intuitively understand weather trends along their route. Radar and satellite imagery for Western Europe, Canada, Australia and the U.S. provide pilots with even more weather products so it’s easy to determine if precipitation or cloud cover will impact a flight.

Less Paper – More Electronic Charts

Reduce the amount of paper charts needed for a flight with Garmin Pilot. Customers have access to optional geo-referenced European FliteCharts for select countries and also supports European VFR data sourced directly from Flugsicherung (DFS) and IFR Charts from Eurocontrol. SafeTaxi geo-referenced airport diagrams are available in portions of Europe and are overlaid directly on the moving map. FliteCharts and SafeTaxi coverage is further extended into Canada and includes approaches, departures and arrival procedures.

Smart Airspace

New to Garmin Pilot, Smart Airspace makes it easier to identify what airspace lies ahead. Smart Airspace conveniently highlights the airspace nearest the aircraft’s current altitude and de-emphasizes non-pertinent airspace. Flying into and around special use airspace (SUA) and controlled airspace is much easier with Garmin Pilot.

FastFind

Entering a flight plan is even faster with Garmin Pilot, which features FastFind. As a flight plan is entered, FastFind incorporates predictive logic to suggest airports and waypoints using current GPS location. This feature is automatically incorporated to the latest version of Garmin Pilot for new and existing customers!

Download version 6.2 in the iTunes store today to get the latest version of Garmin Pilot. There are a lot of features, new capabilities, and of course, worldwide coverage packed into this single update. Garmin Pilot Canada Premium includes Garmin FliteCharts and SafeTaxi diagrams for Canada, as well as worldwide text-based weather products, radar, and satellite imagery for the U.S. and Canada available in August.

Visit the Apple App store to download Garmin Pilot and visit fly.garmin.com for complete coverage and pricing information.

Maxcraft Avionics is a leader in airplane and helicopter avionic system upgrades, including installation of everything from basic VHF Radios and flight instruments, all the way to sophisticated GPS, TCAS, EFIS, and glass cockpit systems. We have the largest avionics facility in Canada and over 20,000 unique part numbers in our inventory to repair your aircraft or upgrade your cockpit.

Posted in Latest & Greatest Avionics | Tagged aircraft, AIRMET, airplane, Apple App, avionic systems, Avionics, Canada, cockpit, comprehensive weather, DFS, efis, electronic charts, FastFind, Flight Instruments, flight planning, Flitecharts, garmin, Garmin Pilot, glass cockpit, globe, GPS, Helicopter, IFR, iPad, iPhone, iTunes, Jeppesen, Maxcraft Avionics, METAR, navigation, NavTrack, NOTAM, pilots, radar, SafeTaxi, satellite, SIGNET, Smart Airspace, SUA, TAF, tcas, VFR, VHF Radio, weather, winds | Comments Off

Silver Award

Posted on July 14, 2014 by admin

For Excellent Sales Performance!

This week Garmin recognized us for excellent distributor performance in the year of 2013. We’ve been given an Award of Exemplary Performance, which recognizes our dedication as a top performer, providing first-class levels of sales performance, technical expertise and customer service. This puts Maxcraft Avionics in the top 15% of Garmin distributors worldwide.

Posted in Avionics News | Tagged 15%, 2013, aircraft, airplane, avionic system, Avionics, Canada, cockpit, commitment, distributor, efis, excellence, exemplary, facility, first-class, flight instruemnts, garmin, glass cockpit systems, GPS, Helicopter, Maxcraft Avionics, network, Performance, sales, service, Silver Award, success, tcas, technical expertise, upgrade, VHF radios, worldwide | Comments Off

CBAA tradeshow in Edmonton – Day 3

Posted on June 20, 2014 by admin

CBAA update from Edmonton

Tradeshow was up and running yesterday and a very busy day for Steve and Daryl. The show went well with lots of exhibits and met lots of great people. They finished the day at a nice Portuguese tapas and wine bar.

At this time, they are actually trying to depart to Springbank, Calgary but they had to turn back due to low cloud. Hoping it will burn off in the next hour or so.

As Steve would say “time to spare, go by air!”.

After being stuck in Calgary due to convective activity east of Kelowna, they stayed the night.

Saturday morning they made their way back to Pitt Meadows.

Maxcraft Avionics is a leader in airplane and helicopter avionic system upgrades like the Garmin GTN series, including installation of everything from a basic VHF Radio and simple Garmin portable GPS all the way to TCAS, EFIS, and autopilot systems. We have the largest avionics facility in Canada and we have over 20,000 unique part numbers in our inventory to repair your aircraft or upgrade your cockpit.

Posted in Pilot Stories | Comments Off

Taking the long way to CBAA in Edmonton – Day 2

Posted on June 19, 2014 by admin

Fort McMurray and Oil Sands

After arriving in the late afternoon to Fort McMurray, Steve and Daryl spent the night to have an adventure the next day.

The next day, Steve and Daryl were very fortunate to have a generous helicopter tour of the oil sands in Fort McMurray by the owner of Phoenix Helicopters, Paul Spring.

Very fascinating to see the whole process according to Steve and Daryl.

Later in the evening, they flew to Villeneuve Airport, just 3km away from St. Alberts which is located 20 minutes from downtown Edmonton.

From there, they stayed in Edmonton for a goods nights rest to attend the CBAA the next day!

Posted in Pilot Stories | Tagged autopilot, avionic systems, Canada, Edmonton, efis, Fort McMurray, Garmin GTN, Helicopter, Maxcraft Avionics, Oil Sands, Paul Spring, Phoenix Helicopters, St. Alberts, tcas, Villeneuve Airport | Comments Off

Taking the long way to CBAA in Edmonton

Posted on June 18, 2014 by admin

First stop – Fort McMurray

Steve and Daryl left this morning on an adventure. Flying in Daryl’s Cessna 182 and after watching the change in the weather, they were wheels up mid morning. Their destination…Fort McMurray. Just one of their stops to the CBAA (Canadian Business Aviation Association) in Edmonton.

Packed and ready, with some demo gear, Daryl’s new panel, and new interior in the 182P, they were gone.

A couple of hours ago they were cruising along at 11,500 feet above Kamloops siping oxygen.

Fraser Canyon north of Hope was low but got on top around Lytton.

Staff at Maxcraft are following them anxiously on line with Steve and Daryl’s Spot Gen 3. (which I must say, is very neat to watch).

After landing at Whitecourt, Alberta for fuel, they visited a customer and then continued on. They had a great flight to Fort Mac and under a cloud deck arrived to a very busy airport! Steve and Daryl had a customer pick them up and then lend them their vehicle for the day!

Technicians out on training

Posted on June 17, 2014 by admin

Maxcraft Avionics send technicians out for specialized training

This year, two of Maxcraft’s major clients purchased Airbus EC135 helicopters. Due to the close working relationship between Maxcraft and these companies, as well as the increasing proliferation of these aircraft in general, two of our technicians were sent to an intense 10-day EC135 Avionics Systems Course offered by Airbus Helicopters in Grand Prairie, Texas. Overall the course addressed Avionics, Electrical Systems, Flight Control Display Systems, and Auto Flight Control Systems. The entire course was followed up by an exam and critique to make sure our technicians had full retention of the material covered.

This training anticipates the maintenance and support needs of EC135 operators everywhere, and underpinnes our proactive commitment to staying abreast of emerging technologies, standards, and practices in commercial aviation. As Eurocopter sells more EC135’s, Maxcraft technicians are sure to be armed with the knowledge, training, and skills necessary to maintain and support them.

Here ‘s some feedback from one of our technicians:

“ I found the course very worthwhile and there certainly was allot of information to digest. The hands on experience and simulator time was very useful, and the instructor was super knowledgeable. They even gave us homework at night! It taught me how the system works and with my troubleshooting skills I’m ready for anything the EC135 throws at me!”.

Posted in Avionics News | Tagged Airbus EC135 helicopters, Airbus Helicopters, aircraft, airplane, auto flight control systems, autopilot, Aviation, avionic, Avionics, avionics facility, Canada, cockpit, EC135, efis, electrical systems, Eurocopter, exam, flight control display systems, Garmin GTN, Garmin portable GPS, Grand Prairie, Maxcraft Avionics, operators, tcas, technicians, Texas | Comments Off

TAWS Mandate is Here!!!

Posted on June 5, 2014 by admin

Maxcraft Avionics is reminding ALL

owners and operators that TAWS requirement comes into effect on July 4^th, 2014. In order to meet the mandate, operators with aircraft configured for six or more passenger seats require Class B TAWS equipment and operators with aircraft configured for ten or more passenger seats require Class A TAWS equipment. Maxcraft is offering effective solutions for both Class A and B TAWS requirements.

Maxcraft has also developed tailored solutions for the Beechcraft 1900C and 1900D operators. If you have not yet complied with this mandate, please contact us for an estimate to modify your aircraft and to schedule the upgrade. You may also contact us to clarify requirements for your particular operation.

Posted in Avionics News | Tagged airplane, autopilot, avionic system, avionics facility, Beechcraft 1900C, Beechcraft 1900D, Canada, Class TAWS B, efis, Garmin GTN, GPS, Helicopter, July 4, Maxcraft Avionics, modify, operators, owners, passenger seats, TAWS, TAWS mandate, tcas, upgrade, VHF Radio | Comments Off

Garmin GTN 750

Posted on May 21, 2014 by admin

King Air gets a Garmin GTN 750

This is a major upgrade for one of Maxcraft’s regular commercial clients: Jerry Visser of Island Express Air. Island Express Air provides scheduled flights across the Strait of Georgia with its capable fleet of Piper Navajos, servicing Vancouver, Abbotsford, Victoria, Nanaimo and Tofino. Recently, Mr. Visser acquired this B100 King Air to pursue charter work in addition to the regularly scheduled flights handled by his Navajo fleet.

Maxcraft technicians have done regular maintenance on the Island Express Navajo fleet several times in the past, and this time they took a crack at Island Express Air’s new King Air B100. This aircraft left Maxcraft with a new GTN-750, (Garmin’s top-grade GPS/NAV/COM/MFD solution) and provisions for Class-B TAWS enablement at a later date. With a GTN-750 already installed, complying with upcoming Class-B TAWS requirements will be a simple and painless process. In addition to the new navigation system, this King Air also received repairs to the ADF and Autopilot systems which were snagged shortly prior to our scheduled upgrade work.

See more pictures about this aircraft on our project page on our website!

Maxcraft Avionics is a leader in airplane and helicopter avionic system upgrades like the Garmin GTN series, including installation of everything from a basic VHF Radio and simple Garmin portable GPS all the way to TCAS, EFIS, and autopilot systems. We have the largest avionics facility in Canada and we have over 20,000 unique part numbers in our in inventory to repair your aircraft or upgrade your cockpit.

Posted in Avionics News | Tagged aircraft, autopilot, B100, cockpit, COM, efis, Garmin GTN750, GPS, GTN750, Island Express Air, King Air, Maxcraft Avionics, MFD, NAV, Piper Navajo, portable GPS, TAWS, tcas, VHF Radio | Comments Off

Structures, Composite……

Posted on May 21, 2014 by admin

What else do we do?

On a regular basis we send employees to work off site. We have daily requests for AME-E’s to go to the aircraft rather than the aircraft come to us. To the next city, across the country or even across the world we accommodate the client. As we speak we have a crew in Thailand working on some helicopters.

Recently at one of our customer’s facilities, our employees were already doing avionics work, and it happened to be that our customer requested some extra non-avionics to be done. What most people don’t know is that we are fully approved by Transport Canada to perform structural repairs / modifications on. We are very fortunate to have Ben Mangal as our full time structures AME. Ben has 15 years of experience in both sheet metal and composite work and his work is truly an art. He’s responsible for the fabrication, modification and inspection of airframe structures in support of avionics installation. This time, he replaced a windshield and then a skin and stringer that go a little too friendly with a log. Many of our customers ask us for a turnkey solution, if we don’t have that capability in house, we partner up with another company that has the same standards of quality and business practises that Maxcraft has.

We don’t just do avionics. We have the capability and the employees to do so much more!

Maxcraft Avionics is a leader in airplane and helicopter avionic system upgrades like the Garmin GTN series, including installation of everything from a basic VHF Radio and simple Garmin portable GPS all the way to TCAS, EFIS, and autopilot systems. We have the largest avionics facility in Canada and we have over 20,000 unique part numbers in our in inventory to repair your aircraft or upgrade your cockpit.

Posted in Avionics News | Tagged airframe, airplane, AME-E, autopilot, avionics installation, client, cockpit, composite, efis, facilities, garmin, Garmin Portable, GPS, GTN, Helicopters, Maxcraft Avionics, modifications, repairs, Structures, tcas, Thailand, Transport Canada, windshield | Comments Off

Springtime Promotions from Aspen, SPOT, Lightspeed and Kannad

Posted on May 12, 2014 by admin

Aspen Avionics Glass

Effective May 1 – May 30, 2014, Aspen is offering customers a substantial savings on the Evolution Pro with Evolution Synthetic Vision. Save up to $1500 on the Pro purchased with ESV, and more savings on single Pro, and on ESV installation.

This is a limited time offer from Aspen.

Lightspeed Headsets

Lightspeed is offering a Spring Rebate Promotion.

We will give you $50.00 at time of purchase if you purchase a Lightspeed Zulu 2 headset before May 26, 2014.

Instant Savings!

Kannad ELTs

Kannad is offering a $100 rebate on Integras and the Compact 406. Offer valid on products purchased between April 1, 2014 and May 31st, 2014.

Call us for more details on this limited time offer.

SPOT GEN3

$70 mail in rebate available now when you purchase a SPOT 3 at regular price with service activation. This offer is valid from May 14 through September 2, 2014. Call us for more details.