Next Generation G1000
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2017 4:38 pm
This was announced on Tuesday:
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/blog/aviat ... ight-deck/
The DA40 was the first G1000-certified aircraft back in 2004, so it's remarkable that the original G1000 system has lasted 13 years through 15 major (up to GDU Version 15) software upgrades, given how quickly electronics tend to become obsolete. GDU 15 software introduced in 2015 is what doubled the resolution of synthetic vision on the PFD.
But according to Garmin the G1000 processors are now "maxed out" so they've introduced a "G1000 NXi" system with 10X the processing power, higher-resolution screens, and a huge number of new software features. Garmin is discontinuing shipment of the original G1000 although support and parts should be available for many years.
Cirrus and Textron (Cessna/Beech) have announced that their new GA aircraft (e.g., 172s) will now ship with the G1000 NXi, and there's a retrofit for the King Air. I can speculate that the new hardware doesn't cost any more than the old, so aircraft manufacturers probably don't have to raise prices for new aircraft equipped with the G1000 NXi.
Diamond has not yet said anything about availability of the G1000 NXi in new DA40/DA42/DA62 aircraft, but I would think they'll be forced to respond both due to competitive pressures as well as discontinuation of the original G1000. A major issue is whether expensive re-certification of the airframe is required, since the G1000 NXi components occupy the same space and can use most of the original wiring. (One exception is that the AHRS and air data computer modules have now been combined into a single module for new installs.) Hopefully the regulators will treat the G1000 NXi the same as a G1000 software upgrade (i.e., no recertification necessary).
The obvious question for existing Diamond owners is what it might cost to replace the original G1000 with newer NXi components. It appears that besides replacing the PFD and MFD screens, the dual GIA63(W) units will need to be replaced -- other G1000 components like GFC700 autopilot servos, air data computer, AHRS, and magnetometer may be re-usable. Since a WAAS upgrade that replaces both GIA63s and one screen (the MFD to get a VNAV button) costs $30K, I imagine a G1000 NXi upgrade would cost more than that, perhaps $35K.
If, however, the NXi also requires the upgraded GSM86 servo mounts (replacing GSM85 units) for Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP), all but the newest GFC700 aircraft might require an additional $20K + expenditure for new servos.
Lots of unknowns at this point...
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/blog/aviat ... ight-deck/
The DA40 was the first G1000-certified aircraft back in 2004, so it's remarkable that the original G1000 system has lasted 13 years through 15 major (up to GDU Version 15) software upgrades, given how quickly electronics tend to become obsolete. GDU 15 software introduced in 2015 is what doubled the resolution of synthetic vision on the PFD.
But according to Garmin the G1000 processors are now "maxed out" so they've introduced a "G1000 NXi" system with 10X the processing power, higher-resolution screens, and a huge number of new software features. Garmin is discontinuing shipment of the original G1000 although support and parts should be available for many years.
Cirrus and Textron (Cessna/Beech) have announced that their new GA aircraft (e.g., 172s) will now ship with the G1000 NXi, and there's a retrofit for the King Air. I can speculate that the new hardware doesn't cost any more than the old, so aircraft manufacturers probably don't have to raise prices for new aircraft equipped with the G1000 NXi.
Diamond has not yet said anything about availability of the G1000 NXi in new DA40/DA42/DA62 aircraft, but I would think they'll be forced to respond both due to competitive pressures as well as discontinuation of the original G1000. A major issue is whether expensive re-certification of the airframe is required, since the G1000 NXi components occupy the same space and can use most of the original wiring. (One exception is that the AHRS and air data computer modules have now been combined into a single module for new installs.) Hopefully the regulators will treat the G1000 NXi the same as a G1000 software upgrade (i.e., no recertification necessary).
The obvious question for existing Diamond owners is what it might cost to replace the original G1000 with newer NXi components. It appears that besides replacing the PFD and MFD screens, the dual GIA63(W) units will need to be replaced -- other G1000 components like GFC700 autopilot servos, air data computer, AHRS, and magnetometer may be re-usable. Since a WAAS upgrade that replaces both GIA63s and one screen (the MFD to get a VNAV button) costs $30K, I imagine a G1000 NXi upgrade would cost more than that, perhaps $35K.
If, however, the NXi also requires the upgraded GSM86 servo mounts (replacing GSM85 units) for Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP), all but the newest GFC700 aircraft might require an additional $20K + expenditure for new servos.
Lots of unknowns at this point...