Blackhawk Group achieves first-ever installation of Garmin’s Autothrottle and Autoland systems on a King Air 350, marking a major advancement in cockpit automation, safety, and workload reduction.
In September, the Blackhawk Group announced the successful completion of the first installation of Garmin’s Autothrottle and Autoland system on a King Air 350 equipped with the G1000® NXi integrated flight deck. This milestone installation, carried out at the company’s Performance Centre in Columbia, MO, represents a major advancement in cockpit automation, safety, and pilot workload reduction for King Air operators.
Garmin’s Autothrottle integrates seamlessly with the G1000 NXi panel, automatically managing aircraft speed and engine power from take-off to landing. By maintaining optimal power settings, the system enhances efficiency while protecting against potential engine exceedances. Autothrottle also automatically engages in overspeed, underspeed, or engine-out scenarios, offering pilots an additional layer of safety and redundancy in high-workload environments.
Complementing this technology, Garmin’s award-winning Autoland system delivers the world’s most advanced autonomous emergency landing capability. Should a pilot become incapacitated, Autoland can assume full control of the King Air 350, select the most suitable airport, coordinate with air traffic control, configure the aircraft, land on the runway, apply braking, and even shut down the engines, all without human intervention. For both single-pilot and dual-pilot operations, Autoland provides unmatched reassurance for operators and passengers alike.
“This first installation demonstrates our readiness to deliver these industry-defining technologies to King Air 350 operators,” said Charlie Love, President of The Blackhawk Group’s Performance Centre Network. “We’re excited to bring the highest levels of automation and safety ever available in this platform directly to our customers.” Through its Blackhawk Performance Centre facilities in Broomfield, CO, and Columbia, MO, The Blackhawk Group provides expert integration and installation of G1000 NXi upgrades, including Garmin Autothrottle and Autoland systems. With decades of experience enhancing the performance and safety of King Air aircraft, Blackhawk is uniquely positioned to support operators adopting this next-generation technology. This milestone underscores the company’s commitment to pioneering aviation advancements that redefine safety and operational efficiency for business aviation worldwide.
