A Beechcraft Baron 58 operator talks about how Garmin avionics – specifically, the GFC 600 autopilot with Smart Rudder Bias – helps reduce workload and increase confidence during single-pilot IFR operations.
Marshall Chipley’s family business was looking for an aircraft to help support the fleet of construction equipment, with reliability and safety-enhancing features top priorities.
Typical missions would begin from their headquarters in South Carolina, USA transporting replacement parts and tools throughout the region for paving, grading and earth moving machinery, sometimes twice a day and in instrument conditions.
Chipley, the only pilot for the company, knew a light piston twin would offer the performance, reliability and safety features needed to accomplish their mission, and decided a 1996 Beechcraft Baron 58 best fit the profile.
Although a highly capable aircraft, an engine failure in a Baron or any light twin can present a safety risk of its own. With this consideration, and the higher workloads required for single-pilot IFR operations, Chipley and his family decided a Garmin-equipped cockpit would not only make the aircraft more capable but also enhance safety.
The upgrade included G600 TXi, EIS TXi, a GFC 600 digital autopilot with Smart Rudder Bias, GTN 750 and more.
“It wasn’t just about wanting this [avionics] system to make my job easier,” said Chipley.
“We also wanted this system to make this really great aircraft what it actually could be. If you get behind the airplane in a bad weather situation, you could get yourself in a bad spot. Having the situational awareness the Garmin products offered was a no-brainer.”
One of the key benefits an autopilot can offer is helping reduce pilot workload, especially during flights in instrument conditions. The Garmin GFC 600 builds on that principle with a robust feature set, including underspeed and overspeed protection, a dedicated return-to-level mode button, Garmin Electronic Stability and Protection and more.
“It doesn’t matter if I’ve got a 15 kt crosswind, the GFC 600 flies a perfect, straight glideslope and localiser all the way in. To be able to trust the system when I’m coming in to just above minimums gives the confidence that you can stay ahead of this airplane and make this a safe flight.”
Garmin’s Smart Rudder Bias monitors the aircraft throughout the entire flight, determines a one-engine inoperative condition, identifies which engine is affected during a failure and immediately applies control force to the rudder to help overcome yaw tendencies.
