Aspen Notes

Aspen Unit notes from Mike Williams

This document should not be perceived as an instructional document. It is merely a place where I have made notes based on my observations of using the unit.

When powering up - MASTER ON, Start the Engine, Avionics ON, PFD ON.

When shutting down - PFD OFF, Avionics Off, Engine Off, Master Off

Th  The Garmin unit sends a very good self-test signal during boot up that includes a LOC / GS signal. If the primary input is set to GPS1, it will display the LOC and GS on the AI portion of the display. I have made this part of my preflight checks when I start up. Self-test screen is right after the database screen on power up. I leave the self-test screen up and let the Aspen finish booting up.

·        The Aspen serves as 2 (arguably 3) NAV heads. VLOC1, VLOC2 and GPS.

o   The PFD can switch the Garmin back and forth from GPS to VLOC mode.

o   The button in the middle toggles the input for the primary CDI. Be mindful of what input it is set for before starting an approach.

o   You can set a secondary nav source to be overlaid on the CDI using the small button to the left and right of the large center button.

·        GPSS is really designed to drive the FD and/or AP. It works best in Heading Mode.

o   GPSS will set the heading bug to whatever is in the DTK field on the GPS.

§  If you are off course and flying toward a fix, press Direct, Enter, Enter on the GPS. Otherwise the DTK will guide you to the original track that you drifted away from and not take you direct to your fix.

o   I have not seen the CDI needle slew for every approach.  In fact, the only time I saw it do this was when shooting an ILS… and it may be because the Garmin switched from GPS to VLOC mode.

§  The heading bug will slew if the turn is part of your flight plan and you are GPSS mode.

o   You can let the AP fly a published hold with GPSS.

§  Execute a missed approach and let the Garmin sequence to the hold. It needs to be in the flight plan.

o   You can also let the Garmin / AP fly a published Arc using GPSS. The LOC 26 approach at DKX has an arc off of VXV that works well. Again, keep the AP in heading mode.

·        When flying an approach, if I want to keep the AP or FD coupled, keep it in heading mode and use ALT to set the decent rate or hold an altitude. I keep HDG mode activated until the final approach course.

o   I put the AP directly into approach mode when I got on the final approach heading. It caught the GS automatically and started flying it. I did NOT put it into NAV mode and it tracked the GPS course all the way to the runway (even after turning off the AP, I kept the FD active).

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