GPS Instruction

Garmin 430/530, CNX80/GNS480 and King KLN 94 ground and flight training for all experience levels.

Since April 2000, Avionics Training Unlimited, Inc. has been offering a wide variety of ground and flight instruction services for Garmin 430/530 and CNX80 users of all experience levels.  Held at the Hampton Inn in Oaks, PA, the weekend workshops feature hands-on “lab” sessions with actual Garmin GPS units, giving each student an opportunity to practice using the GPS in a relaxed, quiet environment.  The GNS 430/530 flight training program is a comprehensive flight training program designed to help master the Garmin in a variety of flight scenarios.

Get hands-on practice using real  Garmin and King GPS units – not simulators!

Avionics Training Unlimited’s weekend workshops feature hands-on lab sessions with actual Garmin 430/530, CNX80/GNS480, and King KLN 94 units.  Research has proven that training is more effective when experiencing the “look and feel” of turning knobs and pushing buttons on an actual GPS, rather than clicking a mouse button with a PC-based simulator. Class sizes are limited to eight students, with two students working together at a GPS unit.  Each student gets ample opportunity to experience using the GPS in an assortment of practical scenarios.

A wide variety of courses are available.

Avionics Training Unlimited offers courses targeting a multitude of experience levels ranging from non-pilots to commercial pilots and flight instructors.  All of our workshops include a color course manual and multimedia CD-ROM.

King KLN 94 Workshop – For the novice to intermediate user, this one day course covers GPS operations in the IFR environment, including equipment requirements, RNAV/GPS approach architecture; the advanced features of the KLN 94, including vertical navigation, map setup, altitude alerting, fuel management, configuration and setup features.  You'll learn all about Leg mode vs. OBS mode, and the OBS button and its various uses.  You'll "fly" an IFR trip and become an expert on handling ATC re-routings and amended clearances with the flight planning feature!  You'll learn about approach modes, and how to select, load, and activate GPS and ILS approaches, STARs and DPs; how to fly GPS approaches (with and without procedure turns), ILS approaches, and missed approaches; how to handle exception scenarios, such as unpublished holds, and how to fly multiple circuits around a hold in lieu of a PT, and more!   Cost: $239/pp

Garmin CNX80/GNS480 Workshop – For the novice to intermediate user, this one day course covers WAAS operations in the IFR environment, including equipment requirements, LNAV/VNAV and LPV approach architecture; the advanced features of the CNX80/GNS480, including map options, soft keys, creating and modifying  flight plans, and setup options.  You'll fly a sample IFR flight plan with ATC re-routings, enroute holds, and more!  You'll learn how to select, load, and activate GPS and ILS approaches, STARs and DPs; how to fly GPS approaches (with and without procedure turns), ILS approaches, and missed approaches, and more!  Cost: $245/pp

Garmin GNS 430/530 Workshop – For the novice to intermediate user, this one day course covers GPS operations in the IFR environment, including equipment requirements, RNAV/GPS approach architecture; the advanced features of the Garmin GNS 430/530, including vertical navigation, map panning/airspace review, configuration and setup features.  You'll learn all about the OBS button and its various uses.  You'll "fly" an IFR trip and become an expert on handling ATC re-routings and amended clearances with the flight planning feature!  You'll learn how to select, load, and activate GPS and ILS approaches, STARs and DPs; how to fly GPS approaches (with and without procedure turns), ILS approaches, and missed approaches; how to handle exception scenarios, such as unpublished holds, and how to fly multiple circuits around a hold in lieu of a PT and obstacle departure procedures, and more!   Cost: $239/pp

Advanced Garmin GNS 430/530 and Avionics Systems Workshop – For the advanced user, this one day course covers the operation and failure modes of avionics and aircraft systems (including autopilots, GPSS, flight directors, standby systems, etc.), as well as hands on practice with difficult and unusual IFR scenarios with the Garmin 430/530.  Each student puts his or her problem solving skills to work as they "fly" arrivals from a NoPT arrival sector; receive an amended approach clearance from a different fix; "fly" a Notam'd missed approach procedure and a missed approach procedure with a "Course from Fix" leg; and "fly" a variety of challenging GPS approaches and departures and arrivals.  Autopilot interaction with the Garmin is also covered.  Attendees of this course must be instrument rated and have attended the Garmin GNS 430/530 Workshop (or equivalent).  Cost: $265/pp

Garmin GNS 430/530 Flight School – A great way to augment the Garmin 430/530 classroom training, this course is a comprehensive flight training program designed to help master the GNS 430/530 in a variety of in-flight scenarios.  The program is divided into four phases, each phase building upon the knowledge/experience acquired from the previous phase.  This six lesson, ten-hour course is conducted in the customer’s aircraft.  All Garmin 430/530 Flight School students must attend the Garmin 430/530 Workshop (or equivalent) as a prerequisite.  Cost: $450/pp ($355/pp if purchased when registering for workshop)

Garmin GNS 430/530 for the Flying Companion – Designed especially for the non-pilot right seat passenger, this private half-day course gives the “right seater” the opportunity to learn some simple Garmin features enabling them to assist the pilot in flight and help reduce the pilot’s workload.  Students receive hands-on practice using Direct-to navigation; creating and modifying flight plans; selecting and loading instrument approaches; auto-tuning frequencies, and more.  No piloting experience is necessary.  Cost: $215/pp

Private training sessions available

Save money on your insurance premium.

Some insurance companies offer discounts for certain types of ground and flight training.  Attending both the Garmin GNS 430/530 Workshop and the Garmin GNS 430/530 Flight School may save you money on your insurance premium.  Contact your insurance agent for more information.

Training example viedo.