The latest version of Garmin’s Flight Stream device—the 510—comes on a multimedia card (MMC) that installs in the card slot of a Garmin GTN-series navigation units with no wiring changes. Available next month for $1,495, the 510 contains Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless capability, enabling communication between the GTN 650/750 and two Apple or Android devices running the Garmin Pilot app. 

The Flight Stream 510 is the newest addition to Garmin’s Connext family and it enables Garmin’s Database Concierge, which uses the 510’s Wi-Fi capability to automatically transfer databases from Garmin Pilot to the GTN series. This eliminates the need to remove, update and reinsert a database card. An additional benefit is that for G500/G600 and GTN installations, once the GTN databases are updated, then they automatically are transferred and synchronized to the G500/G600. With Garmin’s chart streaming feature, pilots can use departure, approach and arrival charts immediately during the synchronizing process.

Pilots can create a flight plan on Garmin Pilot or ForeFlight Mobile, then use the Flight Stream 510’s Bluetooth capability to transfer the flight plan to the GTN series in the cockpit, or move a flight plan from a GTN to Pilot or ForeFlight.

In aircraft equipped with Garmin’s GSR 56 datalink/Iridium satcom, the Flight Stream 510 allows pairing of an Apple iPhone or iPad to a GTN for access to texting and voice calling. This means that pilots can use their own mobile device for texting or calling from within Garmin Pilot, including making phone calls over a headset.

For installations where the GTN is interfaced with Garmin’s GTX 345 ADS-B transponder or GDL 88 ADS-B datalink, the Flight Stream 510 enables display of ADS-B IN weather and traffic on mobile devices running Pilot or ForeFlight. This includes sharing GPS location information from the GTN to the mobile device. AHRS information from G500/G600 displays can also be shared with mobile devices, to drive their attitude indicator and synthetic vision displays. This information can also be shared with Garmin portables such as the aera 795/796 (weather and traffic) and aera 660 (wireless flight plan transfer, weather, traffic and back-up attitude).