Not eligible for installation in aircraft equipped with G1000 or Avidyne Entegra
A Bendix-King (Honeywell) or S-Tec (Genesys) Autopilot must have been previously installed in the aircraft.
This airframe is approved for Smart Glide when equipped with GTN Xi, except when interfaced to Aspen EFD 1000 or EFD 1000 Max.
Requires Garmin Flight Display, GTN Navigator, and Yaw Servo to qualify for GMC 605C
Please contact your RSM if a 3 Servo configuration (Pitch/Roll/Pitch Trim) or an original GMC 605 is required
Garmin GFC 600 Piper PA-46 - Piston Only — 4-Servo Pitch/Roll/Yaw/Pitch Trim Autopilot - GFC600-PPA46PISTONO-4S-PRYT
The Garmin GFC™ 600 Piper PA-46 - Piston Only is a retrofit digital autopilot system configured with four servos for pitch, roll, yaw, and pitch trim control. It brings sophisticated flight-control capability to the approved piston PA-46 application, with the integration, safety-enhancing, and self-monitoring features of the GFC 600 platform.
Four-Servo Flight Control
Provides pitch, roll, yaw, and pitch trim control in the approved 4S-P-R-Y-PT configuration for Piper PA-46 piston aircraft.
Integrated Digital Autopilot
Adds a modern aftermarket flight-control solution for high-performance aircraft through the Garmin GFC 600 digital autopilot platform.
Self-Monitoring Architecture
Supports confidence in automated flight control with the GFC 600 platform’s safety-enhancing and self-monitoring features.
PA-46 Piston Configuration
This GFC 600 configuration is approved by Garmin specifically for the Piper PA-46 - Piston Only application. Its four-servo arrangement includes yaw and pitch-trim functions alongside pitch and roll control, matching the identified 4S-P-R-Y-PT configuration.
Cockpit Integration Considerations
The GFC 600 is built for integration within a Garmin avionics installation rather than as an isolated control system. Certain functions and control configurations depend on the installed equipment: VNAV requires a compatible flight display and GTN or GTN Xi navigator, while GMC 605C availability varies by aircraft installation.
Retrofit Flight Control
Garmin positions the GFC 600 as a retrofit flight-control solution for high-performance aircraft. Its digital design combines automated aircraft control with safety-enhancing and self-monitoring capabilities for the approved PA-46 piston installation.
Not sure this is the right fit for your aircraft?
Avionics compatibility can vary based on your aircraft, existing equipment, and planned installation. Give Neal Avionics a call or send us an email—we’ll be happy to help you review the product and determine whether it fits your needs.
Compatible add-ons
Optional Equipment
Add compatible components and accessories to your order.
ADD SOPHISTICATED FLIGHT CONTROL TO YOUR PISTON OR TURBINE AIRCRAFT
Offering superior integration and a wide array of safety-enhancing and self-monitoring features, the GFC 600 digital autopilot is a revolution in aftermarket flight control solutions.
Retrofit flight control solution for high-performance aircraft
GFC™ 600 Digital Autopilot is currently approved for many models of Cessna, Beechcraft, and Piper aircraft.
Highlights
This autopilot is designed for a wide range of single-and twin-engine piston and turbine aircraft.
View modes and flight director cue on your select Garmin digital instruments and flight displays.
Digitally driven “smart” servos provide crisp control inputs and a silky-smooth ride.
Fly with safety-enhancing features that include Electronic Stability and Protection (Garmin ESP), return-to-level (LVL) mode and more.
Scalable 2-axis (pitch and roll) control can be expanded with available pitch-trim and yaw damper.
Pair with your compatible GPS navigator to fly coupled approaches and other procedures.
Maximize performance and capability.
RELIABLE ADAHRS REFERENCE
Forget failure-prone mechanical gyros. Instead, the GFC 600 system is digitally controlled, using solid-state attitude and air data sensors (ADAHRS) for greater precision and reliability.
SIMPLIFIED MODE SELECTION
The GFC 600 mode controller features backlit keys and a bright, sunlight-readable color annunciator display. An intuitive up-down control wheel on the unit allows for easy and precise adjustment of aircraft pitch, airspeed and vertical speed modes.
OPTIONAL MODE ANNUNCIATOR
An available stand-alone indicator allows for supplemental display of mode selections in the pilot’s primary field of view. For easy refit, the unit’s footprint is identical to those of other third-party autopilot mode indicators on the market.
ADAPTABLE ARCHITECTURE
The autopilot’s scalable architecture supports full pitch-and-roll axis control capabilities. Automatic and manual electric pitch trim is supported. Yaw damper capability is also available for select aircraft models.
LATERAL MODES
GFC 600 makes it easy to track your desired lateral course. Roll, heading, NAV (GPS/VOR/LOC), back course and more are available.
VERTICAL MODES
The advanced vertical modes make it easy to manage climbs, descents and more with the GFC 600 system. Vertical modes include pitch hold, altitude hold with preselect, vertical speed, approach and more. Flight level change is available on select platforms.
Integrate, navigate, automate.
FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTEGRATION
Guidance from your compatible navigation source (such as the GTN Xi, GTN or GNS series navigators) enables the GFC 600 system to offer flight director display on your compatible Garmin flight displays and instruments.
AUTOPILOT-COUPLED NAVIGATION
With flight director guidance from compatible Garmin or third-party navigators, GFC 600 can fly a wide range of precision, nonprecision and GPS-guided approaches — as well as holds, procedure turns, missed approaches and more.
COUPLED VNAV
When the GFC 600 system is paired with your GTN or GTN Xi series touchscreen navigator and compatible flight displays, fully coupled VNAV mode can fly a fully coupled vertical descent profile with automatic step-down altitude captures.
SIMPLY GO-AROUND
With support for a remote takeoff/go-around button, the autopilot can be cued to automatically capture the correct pitch attitude required to fly a missed approach then follow the procedure loaded in your compatible GPS navigator.
FLIGHT DISPLAY INTERFACE
For installations with compatible glass flight displays (such as the G600, G500 or our TXi series), interface capability is provided for GFC 600 autopilot mode annunciations, altitude preselect and flight director command bars.
THIRD-PARTY DISPLAY COMPATIBILITY
GFC 600 is adaptable for use with a variety of third-party glass flight displays, instruments and navigation sources.
A superior suite of servos.
POWERFULLY SMART SERVOS
Digitally controlled speed and torque limits on the GFC 600 servos allow faster, crisper and more powerful response — ensuring optimum smoothness and comfort in flight.
BRUSHLESS SERVO MOTORS
For maximum reliability, GFC 600 servos incorporate brushless DC motors. This results in greater system efficiency and reduced maintenance requirements. The servos also provide virtually no control system friction with the autopilot turned off.
Advanced “safety net” features.
SMART RUDDER BIAS FEATURE
When appropriately equipped, the GFC 600 digital autopilot offers Smart Rudder Bias to assist with one-engine inoperative events. The Smart Rudder Bias feature helps by automatically identifying the affected engine and applying control inputs to give the pilot time to stabilize the aircraft.
AUTOMATIC LVL MODE
Distracted or disoriented? A dedicated LVL mode button on the autopilot controller commands the autopilot to automatically return the aircraft to straight-and-level flight.
GARMIN ESP CORRECTIVE TECHNOLOGY
When a pilot is hand-flying, this proactive feature functions independently of the autopilot, using the system’s servos to gently nudge the controls back toward level flight if pitch or roll deviations exceed recommended limits. Garmin ESP can be disabled to allow for intentional maneuvers.
OVERSPEED/UNDERSPEED PROTECTION
To help keep the aircraft flying at safe airspeeds, GFC 600 provides overspeed and underspeed protection with automatic pitch adjustments and audible “airspeed, airspeed” pilot alerts.
Retrofit made simple.
APPROVED MODEL LIST CERTIFICATION
With supplemental type certification completed for a growing list of aircraft models, see your authorized Garmin dealer for an approved GFC 600 system installation that meets your mission requirements and budget.
SUPPORT TO KEEP YOU FLYING
Backed by a comprehensive warranty and the industry’s No. 1-rated support team, GFC 600 is a total peace-of-mind investment for getting full utility out of your aircraft. See your authorized Garmin dealer to learn more.
Yaw damper available on select aircraft installations
GMC 605C not available for all aircraft. GMC 605C installations require yaw damper, a compatible Garmin flight display and GTN or GTN Xi series navigator.
VNAV requires a compatible flight display and GTN/GTN Xi navigator. Not available for Cessna 182.
Applicability
Approved Garmin GFC 600 configuration for the Piper PA-46 - Piston Only (4S-P-R-Y-PT).
