Metro Aviation & Geisinger Life Flight Unveil New Garmin Tech

Metro Aviation has launched its new STC GTN 650/750 Xi series with partner Geisinger Life Flight. The new equipment is certified for single pilot instrument flight rules (SPIFR) use in Geisinger’s EC145 and allows pilots to visualize the entire flight plan, including holds and approaches, on a high-resolution touchscreen.

Geisinger’s aircraft, which will serve as a flying intensive care unit, was delivered during a milestone year, as the program is celebrating 40 years of providing lifesaving care to Geisinger’s service area and beyond. Metro Aviation installed the Garmin equipment in Geisinger’s EC145 cockpit, along with a complete medical interior that can accommodate three medical providers and up to two patients. Medical mounts installed by Metro include secure ventilators, IV pumps, and multifunctional monitors.

The Garmin 650/750 Xi multifunction display supports multiple inputs, and can show moving maps, terrain, traffic, weather, airport diagrams, and more. The new STC was designed to be used on a complete installation, or for eventual upgrades to the nearly 100 EC145’s in operation now. The new STC also includes the Garmin GTX345R, GDL 69H, TAS605A, GWX75H, HTAWS and ADS-B. This new STC rolls up many of the new features that were not previously available in the GNS series of equipment. Metro Aviation received a second STC for the Garmin GTN 650/750 for the Airbus EC135.

“This new equipment installed in our newest aircraft will help our crews better deliver on our mission, and we’re fortunate to have a great partner in Metro Aviation to help integrate the latest in aircraft technology into our program,” said Gerald Splitt, Geisinger Life Flight program director.