Garmin GNS 530, GNS 530A Pilot’s Guide & Ref er ence

GNS 530
GNS 530A

Pilot’s Guide
& Ref er ence

This manual refl ects the operation of Main System Software version 4.0 or above. Some differences in opera­tion may be observed when comparing the information in this manual to earlier software versions.

Garmin International, Inc., 1200 East 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas 66062 U.S.A.
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Garmin (Europe) Ltd., Unit 5, The Quadrangle, Abbey Park, Romsey, Hampshire S051 9DL, U.K.
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Garmin Corporation, No. 68, Jangshu 2nd Road, Shijr, Taipei County, Taiwan
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]

INTRODUCTION

Foreword

Web Site Address: www.garmin.com

© 2001-2003 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Except as expressly provided herein, no part

Visit the Garmin website for the latest updates and
supplemental information concerning the operation
of this and other Garmin products.

of this manual may be reproduced, copied, transmitted, disseminated, downloaded or stored in any storage
medium, for any purpose without the express written permission of Garmin. Garmin hereby grants permis­sion to download a single copy of this manual and of any revision to this manual onto a hard drive or other
electronic storage medium to be viewed for personal use, provided that such electronic or printed copy of
this manual or revision must contain the complete text of this copyright notice and provided further that any

Garmin®, AutoLocate® and PhaseTrac12® are
registered trademarks and GNS 530™ and
Spell’N’Find™ are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or
its subsidiaries and may not be used without the
express permission of Garmin.

unauthorized commercial distribution of this manual or any revision hereto is strictly prohibited.

NavData

Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Garmin reserves the right to change or

Inc.

improve their products and to make changes in the content of this material without obligation to notify any
person or organization of such changes or improvements.

April 2003 190-00181-00 Rev. C

®

is a registered trademark of Jeppesen,

i

INTRODUCTION

Cautions

,

CAUTION: The Global Positioning System is operated by the United States government, which is solely re­ spon si ble for its accuracy and maintenance. The system is subject to changes which could affect the accuracy
and performance of all GPS equipment. Although the Garmin GNS 530 is a precision electronic NAVigation
AID (NAVAID), any NAVAID can be misused or misinterpreted and therefore become unsafe.

NOTE: This device complies with Part 15 of
the FCC limits for Class B digital devices. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harm­ful interference to radio com mu ni ca tions. Further­more, there is no guarantee that in ter fer ence will
not occur in a particular in stal la tion.

If this equipment does cause harmful interfer­ence, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by relocating the equipment or con­necting the equipment to a different circuit than the
affected equipment. Consult an authorized dealer
or other qualifi ed avionics technician for additional
help if these remedies do not correct the problem.

Operation of this device is subject to the fol­lowing conditions: (1) This device may not cause
harmful interference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference received, including interfer­ence that may cause undesired operation.

,

,

,

,

,

CAUTION: Use the GNS 530 at your own risk. To reduce the risk of unsafe operation, carefully review and
un der stand all aspects of this Owner’s Manual and the Flight Manual Sup ple ment, and thor ough ly practice
basic operation prior to actual use. When in actual use, carefully compare in di ca tions from the GNS 530 to
all available navigation sources, including the information from other NAVAIDS, visual sightings, charts, etc.
For safety, always resolve any dis crep an cies before continuing navigation.

WARNING: The altitude calculated by the GNS 530 is geometric height above mean sea level and could vary
sig nifi cant ly from altitude displayed by pressure altimeters in aircraft. GPS accuracy may be degraded by the
U.S. Department of De fense-imposed Selective Availability (SA) program. With “SA” on, GPS altitude may be
in error by several hundred feet. Never use GPS altitude for vertical navigation.

WARNING: The Jeppesen database incorporated in the GNS 530 must be updated reg u lar ly in order to
ensure that its information is current. Updates are released every 28 days. A database in for ma tion packet is
included in your GNS 530 package. Pilots using an out-of-date database do so entirely at their own risk!

CAUTION: GPS receivers operate by receiving and decoding very low power radio signals broadcast by
sat el lites. It is possible that in some situations other radio equipment or electronic equipment used in close
proximity to a GPS receiver may create electromagnetic interference (EMI) which may affect the ability of the
GPS receiver to receive and decode the satellite signals. In such event, the interference may be reduced or
eliminated by switching off the source of interference or moving the GPS receiver away from it.

CAUTION: The Garmin GNS 530 does not contain any user-serviceable parts. Repairs should only be made
by an authorized Garmin service center. Unauthorized repairs or modifi cations could void your warranty and
authority to operate this device under FCC Part 15 regulations.

ii

Congratulations on choosing the world’s fi nest panel-mounted IFR navigation/com munication system! The
GNS 530 represents Garmin’s continued commitment to providing you with the most advanced tech nology
available today — in an accurate, easy-to-use design suitable for all of your fl ying needs.

INTRODUCTION

Accessories and Packing List

)

Unless otherwise specifi ed within this manual, the term "GNS 530" applies to both the GNS 530
and the GNS 530A models. Please, note that the difference between these two models is indicated
under "VHF COM Performance" in the Specifi cations section of this manual (see Appendix B).

Before installing and getting started with your new system, please ensure that your package includes the
following items. If any parts are missing or are damaged, please contact your Garmin dealer.

Standard Package:

To obtain accessories for your GNS 530, please
contact your Garmin dealer.

• GNS 530 Unit & NavData® Card

• GPS Antenna

• Installation Rack & Connectors

• Pilot’s Guide & Quick Reference Guide

• 400/500 Series Display Interfaces Pilot’s Guide Addendum

• GNS 530 Simulator Interactive Training CD-ROM

• Database Subscription Packet

• Warranty Registration Card

Your Garmin dealer will perform the installation and confi guration of your new GNS 530. After in stal­lation, the NavData® card will already be installed into the correct slot on the front of the unit (see Appendix
A). The GNS 530 will be secured in the installation rack with the proper wiring con nections. Have your
dealer answer any questions you may have about the installation — such as location of antennas or any con-

Help us better support you by completing our
on-line registration form today! Registration
ensures that you will be notifi ed of product updates
and new products and provides lost or stolen
unit tracking. Please, have the serial number
of your GNS 530 handy, connect to our website
(www.garmin.com) and look for our Product
Registration link on the home page.

The GNS 530 display lens is coated with a special
anti-refl ective coating which is very sensitive to
skin oils, waxes and abrasive cleaners. It is very
important to clean the lens using an eyeglass lens
cleaner which is specifi ed as safe for anti-refl ective
coatings (one suitable product is Wal-Mart® Lens
Cleaner) and a clean, lint-free cloth.

nections to other equipment in the panel.

iii

INTRODUCTION

Warranty

Garmin is fully committed to your satisfaction as
a customer. If you have any questions regarding
the GNS 530, please contact our customer service
department at:

Garmin International, Inc.
1200 East 151st Street
Olathe, KS 66062-3426 U.S.A.
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

LIMITED WARRANTY

This Garmin product is warranted to be free from defects in materials or workmanship for one year from
the date of purchase. Within this period, Garmin will at its sole option, repair or replace any components
that fail in normal use. Such repairs or replacement will be made at no charge to the customer for parts or
labor, provided that the customer shall be responsible for any transportation cost. This warranty does not
cover failures due to abuse, misuse, accident or unauthorized alteration or repairs.

THE WARRANTIES AND REMEDIES CONTAINED HEREIN ARE EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL
OTHER WARRANTIES EXPRESS OR IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY LIABILITY ARISING
UNDER ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE,
STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, WHICH MAY
VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.

IN NO EVENT SHALL GARMIN BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER RESULTING FROM THE USE, MISUSE, OR INABILITY TO
USE THIS PRODUCT OR FROM DEFECTS IN THE PRODUCT. Some states do not allow the exclusion of
incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations may not apply to you.

Garmin retains the exclusive right to repair or replace the unit or software or offer a full refund of the
purchase price at its sole discretion. SUCH REMEDY SHALL BE YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY
FOR ANY BREACH OF WARRANTY.

To obtain warranty service, contact your local Garmin Authorized Service Center. For assistance in
locating a Service Center near you, call Garmin Customer Service at the number listed on the right.

Products sold through online auctions are not eligible for rebates or other special offers from Garmin.
Online auction confi rmations are not accepted for warranty verifi cation. To obtain warranty service, an
original or copy of the sales receipt from the original retailer is required. Garmin will not replace missing
components from any package purchased through an online auction.

iv

PART ONE: INTRODUCTION

Foreword........................................................................................................................................ i

Cautions........................................................................................................................................ ii

Accessories / Packing List ............................................................................................................. iii

Warranty ...................................................................................................................................... iv

Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................... v-vi

PART TWO: TAKEOFF TOUR

Key and Knob Functions ............................................................................................................1-3

Power On ...................................................................................................................................4-6

Acquiring Satellites / Viewing Messages .........................................................................................7

Selecting COM/NAV Frequencies ..................................................................................................8

Map Page....................................................................................................................................... 9

Page Groups ...........................................................................................................................10-11

Direct-To Navigation ................................................................................................................... 12

Default NAV Page ........................................................................................................................ 13

NAVCOM Page............................................................................................................................14

IFR Procedures............................................................................................................................ 15

Nearest Airports .....................................................................................................................16-17

Special-use/Controlled Airspace ..................................................................................................18

Flight Plans ............................................................................................................................19-20

PART THREE: REFERENCE

Section 1: Communicating with the GNS 530 ........................................................................21-26

COM and VLOC frequencies; active and standby frequencies

Section 2: NAV Pages (GPS navigation pages).........................................................................27-43

INTRODUCTION

Table of Contents

For information or help on a specifi c topic, please
use the Index section.

Using page groups and selecting the desired page; using the default NAV and map pages

v

INTRODUCTION

Table of Contents

To quickly and easily locate information on specifi c
tasks, please refer to the Index on page 184.

Section 3: Direct-to Navigation...............................................................................................44-48

Using the direct-to key

Section 4: Flight Plans (FPL key and FPL page group) ...........................................................49-60

Creating and using fl ight plans; retrieving and editing stored fl ight plans

Section 5: Approaches, Departures & Arrivals (PROC key)....................................................61-87

Selecting and fl ying non-precision/precision approaches; selecting and using departures (SIDs)

and arrivals (STARs)

Section 6: WPT Pages (Waypoint/database information).......................................................88-112

Finding and viewing airport location, runway and frequency data; fi nding and viewing navaid

information; creating user-defi ned waypoints

Section 7: NRST Pages (Nearest airports, etc.) ....................................................................113-124

Viewing nearest listings for airports, navaids and airspaces; displaying frequencies for nearest

fl ight service (FSS) and center

Section 8: VLOC (VOR/Localizer/Glideslope) Receiver Operations .....................................125-128

Section 9: AUX Pages (Flight Planning and Unit Settings) ..................................................129-154

Section 10: Vertical Navigation (VNAV)..............................................................................155-157

Section 11: Fault Detection and Exclusion (FDE) Interface.................................................158-160

Section 12: Messages, Abbreviations & Navigation Terminology ........................................161-173

Appendix A: NavData® Card Use .............................................................................................174

Appendix B: Specifi cations ........................................................................................................ 175

Appendix C: Map Datums ..................................................................................................176-177

Appendix D: Troubleshooting Q & A .................................................................................178-183

Appendix E: Index .............................................................................................................184-188

vi

The GNS 530 is designed to make operation as simple as possible. The descriptions on the next three
pages provide a general overview of the primary function(s) for each key and knob. This Takeoff Tour section
is intended to provide a brief overview of the pri mary functions of your GNS 530. Experiment with the unit
and refer to the reference sec tions for more information.

Left-hand Keys and Knobs

TAKEOFF TOUR

Key and Knob Functions

k

j

y

v

W

V

The COM power/volume knob controls unit power and communications radio volume.

Press momentarily to disable automatic squelch control.

The VLOC volume knob controls audio volume for the selected VOR/ Localizer frequency.
Press momentarily to enable/disable the ident tone.

The large left knob (COM/VLOC) is used to tune the megahertz (MHz) value of the
standby frequency for the communications transceiver (COM) or the VOR/Localizer receiver,
whichever is currently selected by the tuning cursor.

The small left knob (PUSH C/V) is used to tune the kilohertz (kHz) value of the standby
frequency for the communications transceiver (COM) or the VLOC receiver, whichever is
currently selected by the tuning cursor. Press this knob momentarily to toggle the tuning
cursor between the COM and VLOC frequency fi elds.

The COM fl ip-fl op key is used the swap the active and standby COM frequencies. Press
and hold to select emergency channel (121.500 MHz).

The VLOC fl ip-fl op key is used to swap the active and standby VLOC frequencies (i.e.,
make the selected standby frequency active).

The large and small left knobs allow you to tune
the desired COM or VLOC frequency.

1

TAKEOFF TOUR

Key and Knob Functions

Right-hand Keys and Knobs

RNG

D

m

c

The range key allows you to select the desired map scale. Use the up arrow side of the key

to zoom out to a larger area, or the down arrow side to zoom into a smaller area.

The direct-to key provides access to the direct-to function, which allows you to enter a des-

tination waypoint and establishes a direct course to the selected destination. See Section 3.

The menu key displays a context-sensitive list of options. This options list allows you to

access additional features or make settings changes which relate to the currently displayed
page.

The clear key is used to erase information or cancel an entry. Press and hold this key to im-

mediately display the Default Navigation Page (see pages 10 and 28), regardless of the page
that is currently displayed.

Data is entered using the large and small right
knobs. Experiment with them to become effi cient

at entering data. This greatly reduces the amount
of time spent operating the GNS 530 in fl ight.

2

E

t

r

The enter key is used to approve an operation or complete data entry. It is also used to

confi rm information, such as the Database Page during power on.

The large right knob (GPS) is used to select between the various page groups: NAV, WPT,

AUX or NRST. With the on-screen cursor enabled, the large right knob allows you to move
the cursor about the page.

The small right knob (PUSH CRSR) is used to select between the various pages within one

of the groups listed above. Press this knob momentarily to display the on-screen cursor. The
cursor allows you to enter data and/or make a selection from a list of options.

Bottom Row Keys

TAKEOFF TOUR

Key and Knob Functions

C

O

M

F

VNAV

P

The CDI key is used to toggle the navigation source (GPS or VLOC) which provides output
to an external HSI or CDI.

The OBS key is used to select manual or automatic sequencing of waypoints. Pressing this
key selects OBS mode, which retains the current “active to” waypoint as your navigation
reference even after passing the waypoint (i.e., prevents sequencing to the next waypoint).
Pressing the OBS key again returns to normal op eration, with automatic sequencing of
waypoints. Whenever OBS mode is selected, you may set the desired course to/from a way­point using the OBS Page, or an external OBS selector on your HSI or CDI.

The message key is used to view system messages and to alert you to important warnings and
requirements. See Sections 12 and 9 for more information on messages and unit settings.

The fl ight plan key allows you to create, edit, activate and invert fl ight plans, as well as
access approaches, departures and arrivals. A closest point to fl ight plan feature is also avail­able from the fl ight plan key. See Section 4 for more information on fl ight plans.

The vertical navigation key allows you to create a three-dimensional profi le which guides
you to a fi nal (target) altitude at a specifi ed location. See Section 10.

The procedures key allows you to select approaches, departures and arrivals from your
fl ight plan. When using a fl ight plan, available procedures for your de parture and/or arrival

airport are offered automatically. Otherwise, you may select the desired airport, then the
desired procedure.

Whenever the GNS 530 is dis play ing a list of
information that is too long for the display screen,
a scroll bar appears along the right-hand side of
the display. The scroll bar graphically in di cates the
number of additional items available within the
se lect ed category.

Simply press the small right knob to activate the
cursor and rotate the large right knob to scroll
through the list.

3

TAKEOFF TOUR

Power On

The Welcome Page appears when the GNS 530
is powered on. Dur ing the time this screen is dis­ played, the GNS 530 performs a self test to ensure
proper op er a tion.

The Garmin GNS 530 offers you accurate navigational data and communication ca pability, along with
non-precision and precision approach certifi cation in the IFR environment. The Takeoff Tour is designed
to familiarize you with the basic operation of the GNS 530 — in cluding powering up the unit, changing
frequencies, entering data, performing a simple direct-to, selecting IFR procedures and provides a limited
introduction to using fl ight plans. In ad dition, this section briefl y covers the default navigation, map and
frequency pages available as part of the NAV page group. These pages are used for most of your in-fl ight
navigation.

The Takeoff Tour assumes that the unit and antennas have been properly installed and you have not
changed any of the GNS 530’s default settings. If you have changed any of the factory default settings (po­sition format, units of measure, selectable fi elds, etc.), the pictures shown here may not exactly match what
you see on your GNS 530. Prior to using your GNS 530 for the fi rst time, we recommend that you taxi to a
location that is well away from build ings and other aircraft so the unit can collect satellite data without inter­ruption.

Powering up the GNS 530

The GNS 530’s power and COM volume are controlled using the COM power/volume knob at the top
left corner of the unit. Rotating it clockwise turns unit power on and increases the COM radio volume. After
turning the unit on, a Welcome Page is displayed while the unit performs a self test, followed by a Land Data
Page.

The Database Confi rmation Page appears next and shows the current database information on the NavDa­ta card (with the valid operating dates, cycle number and database type indicated). The database is updated
every 28 days and must be current for approved instrument approach operations. Information on database
subscriptions is available inside your GNS 530 package.

The Database Page shows the effective and
expiration dates of the Jeppesen database on the
NavData Card.

4

To acknowledge the database information, press the ENT key.

Fuel Capacity is

Check CDI/HSI,

RMI and other in-

struments to verify

these indications.

Should match

current OBS course

selection

entered manually

Fuel on board and fuel fl ow are
provided by sensors, if installed

Select to Set Fuel Level

to Full Capacity

Select to display

Checklists Page

Once the database has been acknowledged, the Instrument Panel Self-Test Page appears. To ensure that
your GNS 530 and any connected instruments are working properly, check for the following indications on
your CDI/HSI, RMI, external annunciators and other connected instruments:

• Course deviation - half left / no fl ag • Glideslope - half up / no fl ag

• TO/FROM fl ag - TO • Time to destination - 4 minutes

• Bearing to destination - 135° • Desired track - 149.5°

• Distance to dest. - 10.0 nautical miles • Ground speed - 150 knots

• All external annunciators (if installed) - on

The Instrument Panel Self-Test Page indicates the currently selected OBS course, fuel capacity (CAP), fuel
on board (FOB) and fuel fl ow (FF). The fuel capacity is entered manually. Fuel on board and fuel fl ow may
be man ually entered if your installation does not include connection to sensors which au tomatically provide
these fi gures.

To enter fuel capacity, fuel on board or fuel fl ow fi gures (if not provided by sensors):

1. Rotate the large right knob to select the “CAP”, “FOB” or “FF” fi eld.

2. Rotate the small and large right knobs to enter the desired fi gure, then press ENT.

TAKEOFF TOUR

Instrument Panel Self-Test

Enter the fuel capacity, fuel on board or fuel fl ow
fi gures directly onto the appropriate fi eld of the
Instrument Panel Self-Test Page. Fuel on board
and fuel fl ow are automatically provided if your
installation includes connection to external sensors.

5

TAKEOFF TOUR

Fuel On Board and Checklists

Select “Set Full Fuel?” to set fuel on board (FOB) to
full capacity.

The Instrument Panel Self-Test Page includes selections to set fuel on board (FOB) to full capacity and
access the Checklists Page. This allows you to quickly set fuel to full limits and display any check lists you’ve
entered, such as start up or takeoff checklists.

To set fuel on board to full (if not provided by sensor):

1. Rotate the large right knob to highlight “Set Full Fuel?”.

2. Press ENT and verify that fuel on board (FOB) now matches the fuel capacity (CAP) fi gure. Fuel on board is
now reduced, over time, based on the fuel fl ow (FF) fi gure.

To view the checklists page:

1. Rotate the large right knob to highlight “Go To Checklists?” and press ENT.

2. Rotate the large right knob to select the desired checklist, then follow the steps on page 140 to execute
each step in the selected checklist.

3. Once you complete the desired checklist(s), press the small right knob to return to the Checklists Page. Press
the small right knob again to return to normal operation on the Satellite Status or Map pages.

Once you’ve verifi ed instrument operation with the Instrument Panel Self-Test Page dis­played, rotate the large right knob to highlight “OK?” and press the ENT key.

The Satellite Status Page appears as the GNS 530 begins to collect satellite information. An ‘Acquiring’
status is displayed on the Satellite Status Page and the signal strength of any satellites received appears as “bar
graph” readings. This is a good indication that you are receiving signals and that a position fi x is determined.
Following the fi rst-time use of your GNS 530, the time required for a position fi x varies — usually from one
to two minutes.

Select “Go To Checklists?” to display the Checklist
Page and any available checklists. The GNS 530
can hold up to nine checklists with up to 30 entries
in each checklist.

6

If the unit can only obtain enough satellites for 2D navigation (no altitude), the unit uses the altitude
provided by your altitude encoder (if one is connected).

If the GNS 530 has not been operated for a period of six months or more, it may have to ‘Search the Sky’
to collect new data. This means the unit is acquiring satellite data to es tablish almanac and satellite orbit
information, which can take 5 to 10 minutes. The Satellite Status Page displays a ‘Searching Sky’ status, and
the message annunciator (MSG) above the MSG key also fl ashes to alert you of a system mes sage, ‘Search ing
the Sky’.

To view a system message, press MSG.

MESSAGE PAGE

The Message Page appears and displays the status or warning information applicable to the re ceiver’s cur­rent operating condition.

To return to the previous page after viewing a message, press MSG again.

TAKEOFF TOUR

Acquiring Satellites / Mes sages

The Satellite Status Page shows the ID numbers
for the satellites and the relative signal strength of
each satellite received (as a “bar graph” reading).
‘Searching Sky’ indicates that satellite almanac
data is not available or has expired (if the unit
hasn’t been used for six months or more). The data
is recollected from the fi rst available satellite.
The ‘INTEG’ annunciator (bot tom left corner of
the screen) indicates that satellite coverage is insuf­fi cient to pass built-in integrity monitoring tests. In
the example above, not enough satellites are being
received to determine a position.

7

TAKEOFF TOUR

Selecting COM/NAV Fre quencies

While the GNS 530 is acquiring a position, let’s take a minute to dial in the active and stand by fre quencies
you’ll be using for the fi rst phase of your fl ight. The GNS 530’s display is divided into separate ‘windows’ (or screen
areas), including a COM window, VLOC window (by default with VOR ident/radial, but selectable for other data
— including a traffi c display) and a GPS win dow which occupies the right 3/4 of the display.

COM Window:

Active Frequency

Satellite Status Page with cursor active in COM
window.

To switch the active and standby frequencies, press
the COM fl ip-fl op key. Switching the active and
standby frequencies does not remove the cursor
from the COM window.

8

COM Window:

Standby Frequency

(with tuning

VLOC Tuning Window and

VLOC Ident Window

(Ident Window is user-selectable)

GPS Window:

(right 3/4 of display)

Pushing the small left knob moves the tuning cursor back-and-forth between the COM and VLOC
fre quency windows. To select the active frequency, you must fi rst enter the frequency in the standby fi eld, and
use the COM (or VLOC) fl ip-fl op key to move it to the active fi eld.

To change the standby communication frequency:

1. Press the small left knob, if needed, to move the tuning cursor to the COM window.

2. Rotate the large left knob to select the MHz, and the small left knob to select the kHz of the desired
frequency.

To place the standby communication frequency in the active fi eld, press the COM fl ip-fl op key.

Once you’ve entered the active frequency, simply repeat steps 1 and 2, above, to enter the standby fre­quency. After both communication frequencies have been entered, you may elect to keep the COM window
‘hot’ by leaving the cursor on the standby frequency, or move the cursor to the VLOC window by pressing the
small left knob. NOTE: When selecting VLOC frequencies, the tuning cursor automatically returns to the
COM window after 30 seconds of inactivity.

To change the standby VLOC frequency:

1. Press the small left knob, if needed, to activate the tuning cursor in the VLOC window.

2. Rotate the large left knob to select the MHz, and the small left knob to select the kHz of the desired
frequency.

To place the standby frequency in the active fi eld, press the VLOC fl ip-fl op key.

After the GNS 530 acquires satellites and computes a position, the Map Page appears au tomatically.

TAKEOFF TOUR

Map Page

Map Display

Present Position

Desired Track

Map Scale

MAP PAGE

The Map Page displays your present position (using an airplane symbol) relative to nearby airports, VORs,
NDBs, intersections, user waypoints and airspace boundaries — and your route displayed as a solid line. The
current map scale is indicated in the lower left corner and adjustable using the RNG key.

To adjust the map scale:

1. Press the up arrow on the RNG key to zoom out to a larger area. OR,

2. Press the down arrow on the RNG key to zoom in to a smaller area.

By adding data fi elds along the right-hand side, the
Map Page can combine a mov ing map display and
navigation data for complete situational aware ness.
Map setup pages are provided to add these data
fi elds and to designate the max i mum scale at which
each map feature appears. These set tings provide
an automatic decluttering of the map (based upon
your preferences) as you adjust the scale.

While viewing the map page, you can quickly
declutter and remove many of the background map
details by pressing the CLR key (repeatedly) until
the desired detail is depicted.

To change the map scale, use the RNG key.

9

TAKEOFF TOUR

Page Groups

The map page is one of four pages available under the NAV group*:

• Default NAV Page • Map Page • NAVCOM Page • Satellite Status Page

To select the desired NAV page, rotate the small right knob until the desired page is dis­played.

If you are currently viewing a page which is not part of the NAV group, you can quickly return to the NAV

group using the CLR key.

To select the NAV group and display the Default NAV Page, press and hold CLR.

In addition to the group of NAV pages, additional groups of pages are available for waypoint in formation
(WPT), auxiliary (AUX) functions such as fl ight planning or unit settings, and listings for nearest (NRST)
airports or other facilities.

The bottom right corner of the screen indicates the
page group that is currently being dis played (e.g.,
NAV or NRST), the number of screens available
within that group (indicated by square icons) and
the placement of the current screen within that
group (indicated by a highlighted square icon). To
select a different page within the group, rotate the
small right knob.

* Five NAV pages are available when the GNS 530
installation includes connection to traffi c and/or
weather information sources. See 400/500 Series
Display Interfaces Pilot's Guide Addendum.

10

NAV

4 available pages*

(see pg. 27)

WPT

10 available pages

(see list pg. 88)

AUX

3 available pages

(see list pg. 131)

NRST

8 available pages

(see list pg. 113)

To select the desired page group, rotate the large right knob until a page from the desired

group is displayed.

To select the desired page within the group, rotate the small right knob until the desired

page is displayed.

The following page depicts the organization of the main page groups. Additionally, page groups for fl ight
plans, procedures and vertical navigation are available by pressing the key corresponding to the desired func­tion (FPL, PROC or VNAV). Selecting one of these stand-alone page groups, in effect, exits the main page

groups and displays a page for the desired function. When pressing the same function key a second time, the
GNS 530 returns to the main page group and the previously displayed page.

To select a stand-alone page group, press the corresponding key (FPL, PROC or VNAV).

To return to the previous page from the main page groups, press the same stand-alone

page group key (FPL, PROC or VNAV) a second time.

NAV Group

Default NAV

WPT Group

(Small right knob to select pages within the group)

NOTE: Five NAV pages are available when the GNS 530 instal­lation includes connection to traffi c and/or weather information
sources. See 400/500 Series Display Interfaces Pilot's Guide
Addendum.

NAVCOMMap

Satellite Status

TAKEOFF TOUR

Page Groups

Airport Location

AUX Group

Flight Planning

Airport FrequencyAirport Runway

Airport Approach

Airport Arrival

FPL Group

SetupUtility

Active Flight Plan

IntersectionAirport Departure

NDBs

VNAV PROC

Vertical NavigationFlight Plan Catalog

VOR

Procedures

(Large right knob to change page groups)

NRST Group

Nearest Airport

Nearest NDBNearest Intersection

Nearest VOR

Selection of any main page is performed using the large and small right knobs. The large right knob selects the page group: NAV, WPT, AUX or

NRST. The small right knob selects the desired page within a group. To quickly select the Default NAV page, Press and hold CLR.

Nearest User Wpt

Nearest FSSNearest Center

Nearest Airspace

User Waypoint

11

TAKEOFF TOUR

Direct-To Navigation

Confi rm the selected direct-to destination by high­lighting “Activate?” and pressing ENT.

Once a direct-to destination is selected, press and
hold CLR to display the Default NAV Page.

Destination Waypoint

Identifi er Field

SELECT DIRECT-TO WAYPOINT PAGE

“Activate?”

Function Field

The GNS 530 can use direct point-to-point navigation to guide you from takeoff to touch down, even in
the IFR environment. Once a destination is selected, the unit provides speed, course and distance data based
upon a direct course from your present position to your destination. A destination can be selected from any
page with the direct-to key.

To select a direct-to destination:

1. Press the direct-to key. The Select Direct-to Waypoint Page appears with the destination fi eld highlighted.

2. Rotate the small right knob to enter the fi rst letter of the destination waypoint identifi er. The destination
waypoint may be an airport, VOR, NDB, intersection or user waypoint, as long as it is in the database or stored
in memory as a user waypoint.

3. Rotate the large right knob to the right to move the cursor to the next character po si tion.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to spell out the rest of the waypoint identifi er.

5. Press ENT to confi rm the identifi er. The “Activate?” function fi eld is highlighted.

6. Press ENT to activate a direct-to course to the selected destination.

12

During most fl ights, the Default NAV, Map and NAVCOM pages are the primary pages used for navigation.
The Default NAV Page displays a “look ahead” map, graphic course deviation indicator (CDI), the active leg
of your fl ight plan (as defi ned by the current “from” and “to” waypoints), and four user-selectable data fi elds.
The default settings for these fi elds are dis tance to waypoint (DIS), desired track (DTK), ground speed (GS)
and estimated time en route (ETE). See Section 12 for definitions of these navigation terms. The Default NAV
Page is selected using the steps described on page 10.

User-selectable Data Fields

(all four corners)

TAKEOFF TOUR

Default NAV Page

Active Leg of Flight Plan,

or Direct-to Destination

DEFAULT NAV PAGE

Course Deviation

Indicator (CDI)

From the Default NAV Page, simply rotate the small right knob to display the Map Page (see page 9) and
again to display the NAVCOM Page. The NAVCOM Page displays the available frequencies (com munication
and navigation) for the departure airport, any en-route airports which are included in your fl ight plan, and
the fi nal destination airport. When using the direct-to function, frequencies are listed for the airport nearest to
your starting po sition and the destination airport.

The data fi elds on the Default NAV Page may be
custom-tailored to your preferences. A menu selec­tion is provided to “Change Fields?”.

The large right knob is used to select the data
fi eld you wish to change. Then use the small right
knob to display a list of data options and select the
desired data item.

13

TAKEOFF TOUR

NAVCOM Page

To display the frequency list for the desired fl ight plan or direct-to airport:

1. Push the small right knob to activate the cursor on the airport identifi er fi eld (in the GPS window).

2. Rotate the small right knob to display the list of airports (departure, arrival and en route) for your fl ight plan
or direct-to. Continue to rotate the small right knob until the desired airport is selected.

3. Press ENT to display the frequency list for the selected airport.

Arrival, Enroute

or Departure Airport

Frequency List

The Navigation/Communications (NAVCOM)
Page provides a complete list of airport fre quen cies
at your departure, en-route and arrival airports.
To place a frequency from this list on standby,
highlight the desired frequency and press ENT.

To display frequencies for a different airport along
your fl ight plan, press the small right knob to
highlight the airport iden ti fi er fi eld. Rotate the
small right knob to display the list of airports
within your fl ight plan. Continue rotating the
small right knob to select the desired airport and
press ENT.

14

NAVCOM PAGE

A frequency listed on the NAVCOM Page can be quickly transferred to the standby fi eld of the COM or
VLOC windows. This time saving process prevents having to “re-key” a fre quency already displayed else where
on the screen.

To select a communication or navigation frequency:

1. Push the small right knob to activate the cursor in the GPS window.

2. Rotate the large right knob to select the desired frequency from the list.

3. Press ENT to transfer the selected frequency to the standby fi eld in the COM or VLOC win dow. COM fre quen -
cies automatically go to the standby fi eld of the COM window and navigation frequencies au to mat i cal ly go to
the standby fi eld of the VLOC window, regardless of the window currently highlighted by the cursor.

4. To activate the selected frequency, press the COM or VLOC fl ip-fl op key.

Once the direct-to or fl ight plan is confi rmed, the whole range of instrument procedures is available to
you. Departures (SIDs), arrivals (STARs), non-precision and precision ap proach es are stored within the Nav­Data card and available using the PROC key.

To display the Procedures Page, press PROC.

The steps required to select and activate an approach, departure or arrival are very similar. In this in tro ­ductory section, we’ll show examples of the steps required to select an approach, but keep in mind the same
process also applies to departures and arrivals.

To select an approach, departure or arrival:

1. Rotate the large right knob to highlight the “Select Approach?” option (or “Select Arrival?”/“Select De-
par ture?”) from the Procedures Page.

2. Press ENT to display a list of available procedures for the arrival (when using approaches or STARs) or de-
par ture (when using SIDs) airport.

3. Rotate the small right knob to select the desired procedure and press ENT.

4. For approaches, a window appears to select the desired initial approach fi x (IAF) or a “vectors” option to select
just the fi nal course segment of the approach. Rotate the small right knob to select the desired option and
press ENT. (The “vectors” option extends the fi nal inbound course beyond the fi nal approach fi x, allowing you
to intercept the fi nal course segment beyond its normal limits.)

5. For departures and arrivals, pop-up windows appear to select the desired transition and runway(s). Rotate the
small right knob to select the desired option and press ENT.

6. With “Load?” highlighted, press ENT to add the procedure to the fl ight plan or direct-to.

TAKEOFF TOUR

IFR Procedures

Press the PROC key to display the procedures
page. Rotate the large right knob to select the
desired option.

The selected procedure for the departure or arrival airport is added to the sequence of waypoints in the
fl ight plan or direct-to (as shown on the Active Route Page). You can later “activate” the selected procedure
from the Procedures Page or the Active Flight Plan Page. See pages 56 and 62 for additional information.

A window appears to select the desired procedure.
Use the small right knob to make your selection.

15

TAKEOFF TOUR

Nearest Airports

From page 10 you may recall that one of the main page groups, NRST, provides listings for nearest air­ports or other facilities. The NRST group includes detailed information on the nine nearest airports, VORs,
NDBs, intersections and user-created waypoints within 200 nautical miles of your current position. In ad­dition, pages are also provided to display the fi ve nearest center (ARTCC/FIR) and Flight Service Station (FSS)
points of communication, plus alert you to any special-use or controlled airspace you may be in or near.

To display the NRST pages:

1. If necessary, press the small right knob to remove the cursor from the page.

2. Rotate the large right knob to select the NRST page group, as indicated by “NRST” appearing in the lower
right corner of the screen (see page 10).

3. Rotate the small right knob to select the desired NRST page.

The Nearest Airport Page (shown at left) is one of eight pages available under the NRST group:

• Nearest Airport Page • Nearest Intersection Page

• Nearest NDB Page • Nearest VOR Page

To display a list of nearby air ports, rotate the
large right knob to select the NRST page group
and (if needed) the small right knob to select the
Nearest Airport Page.

To scroll through the list, press the small right
knob, then rotate the large right knob.

16

• Nearest User Waypoints Page • Nearest ARTCC Page

• Nearest FSS Page • Nearest Airspace Page

You may examine both the communication frequencies and runway information directly from the Near­est Airport Page. As discussed earlier for the NAVCOM Page (see page 14), you may also place any displayed
frequency into the standby COM or VLOC fi eld by highlighting the frequency with the cursor and pressing
ENT.

To view additional information for a nearby airport:

1. Press the small right knob to activate the cursor.

2. Rotate the large right knob to select the desired airport from the list.

3. Press ENT to display waypoint (WPT) information pages for the selected airport.

4. To display runway and frequency information, press the small right knob to remove the cursor and rotate the
small right knob to display the desired information page.

The Nearest Airport Page may be used in conjunction with the direct-to key to quickly set a course to a
nearby facility in an in-fl ight emergency. Selecting a nearby airport as a direct-to destination overrides your
fl ight plan or cancels a previously selected direct-to destination (you still have the option of returning to your
fl ight plan by cancelling the direct-to. See page 48.)

To select a nearby airport as a direct-to destination:

From the Nearest Airport Page...

1. Press the small right knob to activate the cursor.

2. Rotate the large right knob to select the desired airport from the list.

3. Press the direct-to key, ENT and ENT (again) to navigate to the nearby airport.

From an Airport Information Page...

1. Press the direct-to key, ENT and ENT (again) to navigate to the nearby airport.

TAKEOFF TOUR

Nearest Airports

Additional information for a nearby airport is
available by highlighting an identifi er on the list
and pressing ENT.

To select a nearby airport as a new destination,
highlight its identifi er, press the direct-to key,
ENT and ENT (again).

17

TAKEOFF TOUR

Special-use/Controlled Air space

When an airspace alert occurs, the message (MSG)
annunciator fl ashes at the bottom of the screen.
Press MSG to view the alert message.

To view additional information about the airspace,
select the nearest airspace page. Detailed informa­tion is available by highlighting the airspace name
and pressing ENT.

The last page in the NRST group, the Nearest Airspace Page, provides information for up to nine con­trolled or special-use airspaces near or in your fl ight path. Airspace information appears on this page based
upon the same criteria used for airspace alert messages. Nearby airspace information and airspace alert mes­sages are provided according to the following conditions:

• If your projected course takes you inside an airspace within the next ten minutes, the message
“Airspace ahead -- less than 10 minutes” appears.

• If you are within two nautical miles of an airspace and your current course is such that it will take
you inside that airspace, the message “Airspace near and ahead” appears.

• If you are within two nautical miles of an airspace and your current course is such that it will not
take you inside that airspace, the message “Near airspace less than 2nm” appears.

• If you have entered an airspace, the message “Inside Airspace” appears.

By default, airspace alert messages are turned off. When turned on, the message (MSG) annunciator
located directly above the MSG key fl ashes to alert you to the airspace message (see page 147 for information
on enabling airspace alert messages.).

To view an airspace alert message:

1. Press the MSG key. The message page appears with the alert message.

2. Press MSG again to return to the previous display.

Note that the airspace alerts are based upon three-dimensional data (latitude, longitude and altitude) to
avoid nuisance alerts. The alert boundaries for controlled airspace are also sectorized to provide complete
information on any nearby airspace. Additional information about a nearby airspace — such as controlling
agency, frequency and fl oor/ceiling limits — is available from the nearest airspace page (see page 121 and
illustrations shown at left).

18

The GNS 530 lets you create up to 20 fl ight plans, with up to thirty-one waypoints in each fl ight plan.
Flight plans are created, edited and activated using the FPL key. The FPL page group includes two pages: the
Active Flight Plan Page and the Flight Plan Catalog. The Active Flight Plan Page provides in formation and
editing features for the fl ight plan currently in use (re ferred to as “fl ight plan 00”). The Flight Plan Catalog
serves as the main page for creating new fl ight plans, as well as editing or activating previously created fl ight
plans.

Since using fl ight plans is arguably one of the more complex features of the GNS 530, we’ll only discuss
it briefl y here — focusing on creating a new fl ight plan and activating it to use for navigation. After reading
through this brief introduction, answers to additional questions you may have about fl ight plans can be found
in the reference section, starting on page 49.

To create a new fl ight plan:

1. Press the FPL key and rotate the small right knob to select the Flight Plan Catalog.

2. Press the MENU key to display the Flight Plan Catalog Options.

3. Rotate the large right knob to select “Create New Flight Plan?” and press ENT.

4. The cursor appears on the fi rst waypoint identifi er fi eld (located directly below “WAYPOINT”). Use the large
and small right knobs to enter the identifi er of the fi rst waypoint in the fl ight plan (the small knob is used to
select the desired letter or number and the large knob is used to move to the next character space.).

5. Press ENT once the identifi er has been selected. The cursor moves to the next blank waypoint identifi er fi eld.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5, above, until all waypoints for the fl ight plan have been entered.

TAKEOFF TOUR

Flight Plans

Active Flight Plan Page with fl ight plan currently
in use.

To create a new fl ight plan, select “Create New
Flight Plan?” from the Flight Plan Catalog Options.

19

TAKEOFF TOUR

Additional Reading

Once the fl ight plan is created, it may be activated from an options window. Activating the fl ight plan
places it into “fl ight plan 00” (a copy of it still resides in the original catalog location) and replaces any fl ight
plan which currently exists in “fl ight plan 00.”

To activate the new fl ight plan:

1. Press the MENU key to display the Flight Plan Catalog Options.

2. Rotate the small right knob to select “Activate Flight Plan?” and press ENT.

This Takeoff Tour is intended to provide a brief introduction of the GNS 530’s major fea tures. The refer­ence section of this manual describes these features, and others, in additional detail. Use the reference section,
as needed, to learn or review the details regarding a par ticular feature. The Index (see page 184) may be used
to quickly locate the information you want within the reference section.

Now that you’re familiar with the basics, some suggested additional reading includes:

Enter the identifi er for each airport and/or navaid
into the fl ight plan in the same sequence you wish
to fl y.

Select “Activate Flight Plan?” from the page menu
to begin using the new fl ight plan.

20

• Flight plan features - see page 49

• Waypoint information pages (database information) - see page 88

• IFR procedures - see page 61

• Unit settings (confi guring the unit to your preferences) - see page 144

If you’re unable to locate the information you need, we’re here to help! Garmin’s Customer Service staff is
available during normal business hours (U.S. Central time zone) at the phone and fax numbers listed on page
iv. You can also reach us by mail (see page iv) or at our web site address: www.garmin.com.

Section 1: Communicating with the GNS 530

The GNS 530 features a digitally-tuned VHF COM radio that provides a seamless transition from com­munication to navigation, bringing the two most important functions in fl ying together in one panel-mounted
unit. The GNS 530’s COM radio operates in the aviation voice band, from 118.000 to 136.975 MHz, in 25
kHz steps (default). For European operations, a COM radio confi guration to allow for 8.33 kHz steps is also
provided (see page 154).

Volume

COM radio volume is adjusted using the COM power/volume knob. Rotate the COM power/volume
knob clockwise to increase volume, or counterclockwise to decrease volume.

Squelch

The COM radio features an automatic squelch, providing maximum sensitivity to weaker signals while
rejecting many localized noise sources. You may wish to override this automatic squelch function when listen­ing to a distant station or when setting the desired volume level. The COM power/volume knob allows you
to disable the automatic squelch and keep the COM audio open continuously.

To override the automatic squelch, press the COM power/volume knob momentarily. Press

COM power/volume knob again to return to automatic squelch operation.

Press the COM power/volume knob mo men ­tari ly to override the automatic squelch. Note the
“RX” receive indication when receiving a station.

1 - COM

Radio Volume / Auto Squelch

“TX” appears at the upper right corner of the
COM window while transmitting.

21

1 - COM

Tuning Active & Standby Freqs

COM Window and Tuning

Communication frequencies are selected with the tuning cursor in the standby COM frequency fi eld, and
using the small and large left knobs to dial in the desired frequency. The standby frequency always appears
below the active frequency. The active frequency is the frequency currently in use for transmit and receive
operations.

A frequency may also be quickly selected from the database by simply highlighting the desired frequency
on any of the main pages and pressing ENT. This process is referred to as “auto-tuning”. Once a frequency is
selected in the standby fi eld, it may be transferred to the active frequency by pressing the COM fl ip-fl op key.

While receiving a station, an “RX” indication appears in the upper right corner of the COM
window — to the immediate right of “COM”. A “TX” indication appears at this location while you are trans­mitting.

Tuning cursor in the COM window. Use the small
and large left knobs to dial in the desired standby
frequency.

Once the standby frequency is selected, use the
COM fl ip-fl op key to make the frequency active
for transmit and receive operations.

22

)

NOTE: The tuning cursor normally appears in the COM window, unless placed in the VLOC window
by pressing the small left knob. When the tuning cursor is in the VLOC window, it au to mat i cal ly
returns to the COM window after 30 seconds of inactivity. The active frequency in either window
cannot be accessed directly — only the standby frequency is highlighted by the tuning cursor.