14 DAY TRIAL // Garmin International Inc., a division of Garmin Ltd., today introduced the GPSMAP 496, a full-color, portable aviation device that expands on the GPSMAP 396's features by incorporating Garmin's SafeTaxi airport diagrams, Garmin's Smart Airspace, AOPA's Airport Directory data, enhanced high-resolution terrain database, aviation database with private airports and heliports, accelerated GPS update rate, and pre-loaded automotive maps of North America or Europe.
"With more power and information than any other portable handheld on today's market, the GPSMAP 496 is an essential piece of equipment for any pilot," said Gary Kelley, Garmin's vice president of marketing. "The information on this mini-MFD helps increase safety and situational awareness during all phases of flight - from taxiing to navigating around terrain and weather. And thanks to the pre-loaded street maps, it also gives pilots the ability to navigate unfamiliar roadways with the same ease that they navigate the airways."
As the GPSMAP 396, the GPSMAP 496 also offers optional XM WX Satellite Weather (U.S. only) that features Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD), Aviation Routine Weather Reports (METARs), Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs), Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs), Lightning and Winds Aloft, and several other weather products to help pilots make informed navigational decisions through Garmin's new GXM 30A smart antenna, which is included with the GPSMAP 496.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Airport Directory data are also available in electronic format on the GPSMAP 496. Furthermore, Garmin's version of the AOPA's Airport Directory highlights airports where pilots can save on fuel by using self-service fueling locations.
On the other hand, the Garmin SafeTaxi airport diagrams help pilots navigate unfamiliar airports with confidence. Over 650 U.S. airport diagrams come pre-loaded on the unit. The charts identify runways, taxiways, and hangars, as well as the aircraft's exact location on the field. Another Garmin feature is the Smart Airspace, which eases the identification of the airspace which lies ahead.
Pilots can customize their own minimum clearance limits to receive terrain cautions, which pop up as digital thumbnail images. Viewing the GPSMAP 496's display in any light is easy, thanks to the device's 256-color, high-resolution (480x320-pixels) TFT display. The unit also features a USB interface and rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack.
When traveling by water, the GPSMAP 496 is compatible with Garmin's new BlueChart g2 technology. These optional data cards turn the GPSMAP 496 into a color chartplotter that displays integrated marine maps with shaded depth contours, port plans, inter-tidal zones, spot soundings, wrecks, navies, restricted areas, cable areas, and anchorages.
The GPSMAP 496 is expected to be available in late July at a recommended street price of $2,795.