Polish aircraft manufacturing start-up, Draco Aircraft, has announced it will introduce Garmin’s advanced G500 TXi glass cockpit system into its turbine-powered HyperSTOL (short take-off and landing) aircraft.

Garmin is an American multinational technology company known for designing and developing navigation system and other GPS-related products for the aerospace industry.

Since 2018, Draco has used the Garmin G3X touch system for its aircraft, and the upgrade from the system signals a step towards more advanced cockpit technology and aircraft capacities. It will also aid the company in its efforts of obtaining a European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification.

The new avionics systems will include two 10.6-inch TXi flight displays which will feature a PFP/MFD with customisable engine indication systems (EIS) data presentation. It will dedicate 20% of the screen to vital engine parameters, and the other 80% to essential flight information.

The EIS turbine aircraft system will include engine timers, exceedance recordings, dynamic engine indications and wireless data logging, improving engine efficiency and reducing maintenance costs.

Pilots will be able to optimise display configurations by using the viewing area for comprehensive map data or dividing it into two 40% windows for simultaneous navigation and approach chart visualisation.

The cockpit’s instrument panel will be compatible with Pratt & Whitney, an American aerospace manufacturing company with global services, PT6A turboprop engine data and able to display EIS information alongside PFP/MFD information on one display.

The Garmin avionics suite will include the GTN 750xI GPS/NAV/COMM system, integrated traffic and audio panels, ADS-B transponder and a multi-function electronic standby instrument.

Johannes von Thadden, Draco Aircraft’s chief executive officer, reiterated the importance of the upgrade: “We are excited to present the new Garmin G500 TXi glass cockpit to our state-of-the art turbine aircraft. Since Mike Patey’s initial integration of the Garmin G3X Touch in 2018, this upgrade represents a significant step forward in our EASA/FAA certification journey, offering enhanced reliability, superior screen resolution, and advanced features, making Draco even more attractive to our customers.”