Aircraft
We train in a 1975 Piper Archer III, and don't let the year fool you. This aircraft is equipped with a full Garmin G3X glass cockpit, G5 backup, GFC500 autopilot, and dual comm capability. You'll train on avionics that rival what commercial pilots use every day.
Avionics
The Garmin G3X is a fully integrated glass cockpit display that puts everything in one place. Altitude, airspeed, heading, attitude, GPS position, and critical inflight data all on a single screen. No hunting across a panel full of individual gauges. It's the same technology found in modern factory-built aircraft, and training on it from day one means you're building skills that carry into whatever you fly next. If this fails, a G5 back up will provide everything we need to continue flight.
GPS/Navigation
The Garmin GNS 430 is one of the most widely used avionics units in general aviation. It combines a GPS navigator, VOR/ILS receiver, and comm radio into one unit — meaning you'll learn to navigate, communicate, and fly instrument approaches on equipment you'll encounter in cockpits everywhere. Time on the 430 is never wasted.
Autopilot
The Garmin GFC500 is a fully digital autopilot — and yes, you'll learn to use it. Far from a shortcut, understanding autopilot systems is a core skill for any serious pilot. The GFC500 can hold altitude, track a heading, and even fly instrument approaches, giving you the opportunity to manage the aircraft at a higher level while you focus on decision making and situational awareness. Training on it early puts you ahead of pilots who encounter autopilot for the first time in more advanced aircraft.