Garmin G3X User Manual

G3X™

Multi Function Display

Quick Reference Guide

Overview

GPS Navigation

Flight Planning

Hazard Avoidance

Additional Features

Appendices

Index

Warnings, Cautions & Notes

WARNING: The indicators represented on the Panel are based on GPS-derived data and may differ from the instruments in the aircraft.

WARNING: Navigation and terrain separation must NOT be predicated upon the use of the terrain function. The G3X™ MFD Terrain Proximity feature is NOT intended to be used as a primary reference for terrain avoidance and does not relieve the pilot from the responsibility of being aware of surroundings during flight. The Terrain Proximity feature is only to be used as an aid for terrain avoidance and is not certified for use in applications requiring a certified terrain awareness system. Terrain data is obtained from third party sources. Garmin is not able to independently verify the accuracy of the terrain data.

WARNING: The displayed minimum safe altitudes (MSAs) are only advisory in nature and should not be relied upon as the sole source of obstacle and terrain avoidance information. Always refer to current aeronautical charts for appropriate minimum clearance altitudes.

WARNING: The altitude calculated by G3X MFD receivers is geometric height above Mean Sea Level and could vary significantly from the altitude displayed by pressure altimeters. Always use pressure altitude when determining or selecting aircraft altitude.

WARNING: Do not use outdated database information. Databases used in the G3X MFD must be updated regularly in order to ensure that the information remains current. Pilots using any outdated database do so entirely at their own risk.

WARNING: Do not use basemap (land and water data) information for primary navigation. Basemap data is intended only to supplement other approved navigation data sources and should be considered as an aid to enhance situational awareness.

WARNING: Traffic information is provided as an aid in visually acquiring traffic. Pilots must maneuver the aircraft based only upon ATC guidance or positive visual acquisition of conflicting traffic.

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Warnings, Cautions & Notes

WARNING: XM® Weather should not be used for hazardous weather penetration. Weather information is approved only for weather avoidance, not penetration.

Warning: NEXRAD weather data is to be used for long-range planning purposes only. Due to inherent delays in data transmission and the relative age of the data, NEXRAD weather data should not be used for short-range weather avoidance.

WARNING: The illustrations in this guide are only examples. Never use the G3X MFD to attempt to penetrate a thunderstorm. Both the FAA Advisory Circular, Subject: Thunderstorms, and the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) recommend avoiding “by at least 20 miles any thunderstorm identified as severe or giving an intense radar echo.”

WARNING: The Garmin G3X MFD has a very high degree of functional integrity. However, the pilot must recognize that providing monitoring and/or self-test capability for all conceivable system failures is not practical. Although unlikely, it may be possible for erroneous operation to occur without a fault indication shown by the G3X MFD. It is thus the responsibility of the pilot to detect such an occurrence by means of cross-checking with all redundant or correlated information available in the cockpit.

WARNING: For safety reasons, G3X MFD operational procedures must be learned on the ground.

WARNING: The United States government operates the Global Positioning System and is solely responsible for its accuracy and maintenance. The GPS system is subject to changes which could affect the accuracy and performance of all GPS equipment. Portions of the Garmin G3X MFD utilize GPS as a precision electronic NAVigation AID (NAVAID). Therefore, as with all NAVAIDs, information presented by the G3X MFD can be misused or misinterpreted and, therefore, become unsafe.

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Warnings, Cautions & Notes

WARNING: To reduce the risk of unsafe operation, carefully review and understand all aspects of the G3X MFD Pilot’s Guide documentation and the Pilot’s Operating Handbook of the aircraft. Thoroughly practice basic operation prior to actual use. During flight operations, carefully compare indications from the G3X MFD to all available navigation sources, including the information from other NAVAIDs, visual sightings, charts, etc. For safety purposes, always resolve any discrepancies before continuing navigation.

WARNING: The data contained in the terrain and obstacle databases comes from government agencies. Garmin accurately processes and cross-validates the data, but cannot guarantee the accuracy and completeness of the data.

CAUTION: The display uses a lens coated with a special anti-reflective coating that is very sensitive to skin oils, waxes, and abrasive cleaners. CLEANERS CONTAINING AMMONIA WILL HARM THE ANTI-REFLECTIVE COATING. It is very important to clean the lens using a clean, lint-free cloth and an eyeglass lens cleaner that is specified as safe for anti-reflective coatings.

CAUTION: The Garmin G3X MFD does not contain any user-serviceable parts. Repairs should only be made by an authorized Garmin service center. Unauthorized repairs or modifications could void both the warranty and the pilot’s authority to operate this device under FAA/FCC regulations.

nOTE: All visual depictions contained within this document, including screen images of the G3X MFD, are subject to change and may not reflect the most current G3X MFD system and aviation databases. Depictions of equipment may differ slightly from the actual equipment.

NOTE: This product, its packaging, and its components contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm. This notice is being provided in accordance with California’s Proposition 65. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please refer to our web site at www.garmin.com/prop65.

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Warnings, Cautions & Notes

NOTE: Use of polarized eyewear may cause the flight displays to appear dim or blank.

NOTE: Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) data is provided by the FAA and may not be updated outside of normal business hours. Confirm data currency through alternate sources and contact your local FSS for interpretation of TFR data.

NOTE: The purpose of this document is to provide a resource with which to find operating instructions on the major features of the G3X MFD more easily. It is not intended to be a comprehensive operating guide. Complete operating procedures for the G3X MFD are found in the G3X MFD Pilot’s Guide.

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Warnings, Cautions & Notes

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			Table of Contents
Section 1 Overview.........................................................................................				1
1.1	Unit Overview............................................................................................................			1
1.2	Softkeys......................................................................................................................			3
	MAP Page Softkeys...............................................................................................................			3
	Waypoint Page Softkeys........................................................................................................			4
	Weather Page Softkeys (Optional).........................................................................................			5
	XM Audio Page Softkeys (Optional).......................................................................................			5
	Info Page Softkey..................................................................................................................			6
1.3	Menus.........................................................................................................................			6
1.4	Data Entry..................................................................................................................			7
1.5	Pages...........................................................................................................................			8
1.6	System Settings.........................................................................................................			8
Section 2 GPS Navigation............................................................................				11
2.1	Panel.........................................................................................................................			11
2.2	Vertical Navigation (VNAV).....................................................................................			12
2.3	Using Map Displays.................................................................................................			13
2.4	Waypoints.................................................................................................................			15
2.5	Nearest Information................................................................................................			16
2.6	User Waypoints........................................................................................................			17
2.7	Airspace....................................................................................................................			19
2.8	Direct-to Navigation................................................................................................			19
Section 3 Flight Planning.............................................................................				21
3.1	Flight Plan Creation.................................................................................................			21
3.2	Flight Plan Activation..............................................................................................			23
3.3	Flight Plan Editing...................................................................................................			23
3.4	Approaches...............................................................................................................			26
3.5	Activating Vectors-to-Final.....................................................................................			27
Section 4 Hazard Avoidance.........................................................................				29
4.1	XM Weather (Optional)...........................................................................................			29
4.2	Terrain.......................................................................................................................			31
4.3	Traffic Information Service (TIS)............................................................................			31
Section 5 Additional Features.....................................................................				33
5.1	SafeTaxi....................................................................................................................			33
5.2	FliteCharts................................................................................................................			33
5.3	AOPA Data................................................................................................................			34
5.4	XM® Radio Entertainment (Optional)....................................................................			35
Section 6 Appendices...................................................................................				37
Messages, Alerts & Data Field Options.........................................................................				37
	Miscellaneous Message Advisories......................................................................................			37
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Airspace Messages.............................................................................................................	38
Aural Alerts.........................................................................................................................	39
Data Bar Field Options........................................................................................................	39
Info Page Data Field Options...............................................................................................	40
Utilities............................................................................................................................	43
Flight Log...........................................................................................................................	43
Track Log............................................................................................................................	43
Heading Line......................................................................................................................	45
E6B Calculator....................................................................................................................	45
Weight & Balance...............................................................................................................	46
Proximity Waypoints............................................................................................................	46
Display Symbols..............................................................................................................	49
VFR Symbols.......................................................................................................................	49
IFR Symbols........................................................................................................................	50
Airspace Symbols................................................................................................................	52

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Overview

Section 1 Overview

1.1 Unit Overview

The purpose of this document is to provide a resource with which to find operating instructions on the major features of the G3X MFD more easily. This Quick Reference Guide is not intended to be a comprehensive operating guide. Refer to the G3X MFD Pilot’s Guide and the G3X Installation Manual (available at www.garmin.com) for complete operating and installation procedures.

7” WVGA (800x480)

Color Display

SD Card Slot

Range (RNG) Key

Display Bezel

FMS Joystick

Hardkeys

Softkeys

Unit Overview

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Overview

Appendices Additional Features Hazard Avoidance Flight Planning GPS Navigation Overview

Index

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

				9
			G3X MFD Controls
1	RNG Key	Press to increase or decrease the viewing range of the map
2	FMS	Press the FMS Joystick to toggle input focus between user
	Joystick	interaction with the current page and the page navigation bar
		Turn the FMS Joystick clockwise to access a dropdown menu within
		the highlighted field
		Turn the FMS Joystick to change the selected value within the
		highlighted field
		Move the FMS Joystick to highlight fields or move the map pointer
		when interacting with the page
3	ENT Key	Press to confirm menu selection or data entry
		Press to acknowledge messages
		Press and hold to mark a waypoint
4	CLR Key	Press to cancel an entry, revert to the previous value in a data entry
		field or remove menus
		Press and hold to return to the default page

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Overview

5 MENU Key Press once to view the Page Menu Press twice to view the Main Menu

Press a third time to clear the Main Menu

6FPL Key Press to display the Flight Plan Page

7Direct-To Press to activate the Direct-To function, enter a destination

Key	waypoint and establish a direct course to the selected destination
8 NRST Key	Press to display the Nearest Page for viewing the nearest airports,
	intersections, NDBs, VORs, waypoints, frequencies, and airspaces

9Softkey Press to select softkey shown above the bezel key on the display

Selection Keys

1.2 Softkeys

MAP Page Softkeys

MAP

TERRAIN

WEATHER

PANEL

MAP	Enables second-level Map Page softkeys
TERRAIN	Displays/removes terrain awareness information
WEATHER	Displays/removes weather information
PANEL	Displays/removes the Panel

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Overview

MAP

Press the BACK Softkey to return to the top-level softkeys.

VFR MAP

IFR MAP

TOPO

SAT VIEW

BACK

VFR MAP IFR MAP LOW AWY HIGH AWY BACK

VFR MAP Softkey selected

IFR MAP			Displays IFR map information and softkeys
TOPO			Displays/removes topographical terrain shading
SAT VIEW			Displays/removes satellite imagery (above 20nm scale)
BACK			Returns to top-level softkeys
IFR MAP Softkey selected
VFR MAP			Displays VFR map information and softkeys
LOW AWY			Low Altitude (Victor) Airways displayed
HIGH AWY			High Altitude Airways (Jet Routes) displayed
BACK			Returns to top-level softkeys
Waypoint Page Softkeys
	INFO		CHART		AOPA		WEATHER

INFO	Displays waypoint information
CHART	Displays optional FliteCharts
AOPA	Displays AOPA information
WEATHER	Displays METAR and TAF text

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Overview

Weather Page Softkeys (Optional)

PAN MAP

ANIMATE

INFO

LEGEND

PAN MAP	Activates the map pointer for panning the map
ANIMATE	Animates NEXRAD weather
INFO	Displays XM Information
LEGEND	Displays weather legends

XM® Audio Page Softkeys (Optional)

INFO CATEGORY CHANNEL FAVORITE VOLUME

INFO	Displays XM Information
CATEGORY	Highlights the Category field
CHANNEL	Highlights the Channels field
FAVORITE	Displays a list of favorite channels
VOLUME	Enables second-level VOLUME softkeys.
	Press and hold to toggle Mute on and off.
		VOLUME

Press the BACK Softkey to return to the top-level softkeys.

VOL -

VOL +

MUTE

BACK

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Overview

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VOL -	Decreases XM audio volume
VOL +	Increases XM audio volume
MUTE	Toggles XM audio on/off
BACK	Returns to top-level softkeys

Info Page Softkey

MESSAGES

MESSAGES

Displays system status messages

1.3 Menus

Navigating the Page Menu:

1)Press the MENU Key once to display the Page Menu.

2)Turn or move the FMS Joystick to scroll through a list of available options (a scroll bar always appears to the right of the window/box when the option list is longer than the window/box).

3)Press the ENT Key to select the desired option.

4)Press the FMS Joystick, the CLR Key, or the MENU Key twice to remove the menu and cancel the operation.

Navigating the Main Menu:

1)Press the MENU Key twice to display the Main Menu.

2)Turn or move the FMS Joystick to scroll through a list of available options (a scroll bar always appears to the right of the window/box when the option list is longer than the window/box).

3)Press the ENT Key to select the desired option.

4)Press the FMS Joystick, the CLR Key, the EXIT Softkey, or the MENU Key to remove the menu and cancel the operation.

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Overview

1.4 Data Entry

Using the FMS Joystick to enter data:

1)Press the FMS Joystick to activate the cursor.

2)Move the FMS Joystick to highlight the desired field.

3)Begin entering data.

a)To quickly enter a waypoint identifier, turn the FMS Joystick counterclockwise to display a list of recent waypoints (RECENT WPTS), nearest airports (NRST APTS) or flight plan waypoints (FPL WPTS).

b)Move the FMS Joystick to highlight the desired waypoint from the list and press the ENT Key.

Or:

a) Turn the FMS Joystick to select a character for the first placeholder.

Turning the FMS Joystick clockwise scrolls through the alphabet (where appropriate) toward the letter Z, starting in the middle at K (US only), and the digits zero through nine. Turning the FMS Joystick counter-clockwise scrolls in the opposite direction.

b)Use the FMS Joystick to move the cursor to the next placeholder in the field.

c)Repeat, turning the FMS Joystick to select a character and the moving the FMS Joystick to move the cursor, until the fields are complete.

d)Press the ENT Key to confirm entry.

4)Press the FMS Joystick or the CLR Key to cancel data entry (the field reverts back to its previous information).

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Overview

1.5 Pages

	Selected Page
Active Page Title		Input Focus on Navigation Bar
			(Page Cursor Off)
		Input Focus on Current Page
			(Page Cursor On)

Selecting a Main Page using the FMS Joystick:

1)If necessary press the FMS Joystick to begin interaction with the Navigation Bar.

2)Turn the FMS Joystick until the desired page is selected (MAP, WPT, WX

(optional), TER, XM (optional), INFO).

Selecting the FPL or NRST Pages:

1)Press the FPL or NRST Key.

2)Press the FMS Joystick to begin interaction with the Navigation Bar.

3)Turn the FMS Joystick until the desired page is selected.

1.6System Settings

Restoring system setting defaults:

1)Press the MENU Key twice to display the Main Menu.

2)Turn or move the FMS Joystick to highlight ‘System Setup...’ and press the ENT Key.

3)Turn or move the FMS Joystick to highlight the desired menu option (Data Bar Fields, Display, Date & Time, Position, or Alarms), and press the ENT Key.

4)Press the MENU Key.

5)With the ‘Restore Default’ highlighted press the ENT Key.

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Overview

Changing the information shown in the data bar fields:

1)Press the MENU Key twice to display the Main Menu.

2)Turn or move the FMS Joystick to highlight ‘System Setup...’ and press the ENT Key.

3)With ‘Data Bar Fields’ highlighted, press the ENT Key.

4)Move the FMS Joystick to highlight the desired ‘Field’.

5)Turn the FMS Joystick to access the list of options, then turn or move the FMS Joystick to highlight the desired option and press the ENT Key.

6)To restore defaults, press the MENU Key. With ‘Restore Default’ highlighted, press the ENT Key.

Adjusting display backlighting:

1)Press the MENU Key twice to display the Main Menu.

2)Turn or move the FMS Joystick to highlight ‘System Setup...’ and press the ENT Key.

3)With ‘Display’ highlighted press the ENT Key.

4)With the ‘Backlight Intensity’ field highlighted, turn the FMS Joystick to select ‘Manual’.

5)Move the FMS Joystick to highlight the backlight intensity number, and turn the FMS Joystick to select the desired intensity (0-10).

6)Press the FMS Joystick, the CLR Key, the EXIT Softkey or the MENU Key to remove the menu.

Adjusting the color mode:

1)Press the MENU Key twice to display the Main Menu.

2)Turn or move the FMS Joystick to highlight ‘System Setup...’ and press the ENT Key.

3)With ‘Display’ highlighted press the ENT Key.

4)With the ‘Color Mode’ field highlighted, turn the FMS Joystick to select the desired color mode (Auto, Day, or Night).

5)Press the FMS Joystick, the CLR Key, the EXIT Softkey or the MENU Key to remove the menu.

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Overview

Changing date & time settings:

1)Press the MENU Key twice to display the Main Menu.

2)Turn or move the FMS Joystick to highlight ‘System Setup...’ and press the ENT Key.

3)Turn or move the FMS Joystick to highlight ‘Date & Time’ and press the ENT Key.

4)Move the FMS Joystick to highlight the desired field, and select the desired option by turning the FMS Joystick.

5)Press the FMS Joystick, the CLR Key, the EXIT Softkey or the MENU Key to remove the menu.

Entering airport criteria:

1)Press the NRST Key.

2)Turn the FMS Joystick to select the Nearest Airports Page.

3)Press the MENU Key to display the Page Menu.

4)Turn or move the FMS Joystick to select ‘Set Airport Criteria’, and then press the ENT Key. The Airport Criteria Window appears with the current settings.

5)Move the FMS Joystick to highlight the desired field and turn the FMS Joystick to select the desired option from the menu. Press the ENT Key if necessary to highlight the next field.

6)With ‘Done’ highlighted press the ENT Key.

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GPS Navigation

Section 2 GPS Navigation

2.1 Panel

- Next Waypoint

HSI

-Distance

Ground Speed

Altitude

Turn Rate Indicator

Vertical Speed

Estimated Time Enroute

CDI Scale

Panel (Map Page)

Displaying the panel on the map page:

From the Map Page press the PANEL Softkey.

Changing the CDI scale:

1)From the Map Page with the Panel or Compass Arc displayed, press the MENU Key to display the Map Page Menu

2)Turn or move the FMS Joystick to highlight ‘Set CDI Scale’, and press the ENT Key. The ‘Set CDI Scale’ Menu appears.

3)Turn or move the FMS Joystick to highlight the desired menu option, and press the ENT Key.

Setting the Bug Indicator:

1)From the Map Page with the Panel or Compass Arc displayed, press the MENU Key to display the Map Page Menu

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