Continuous SiriusXM satellite updates — accessible by ground and air — can help you make better, more timely flight decisions. The SiriusXM network’s powerful satellites deliver seamless coverage across the continental U.S. and its coastal regions as well as southern Canada. (See coverage map.) Choose from available SiriusXM Aviation weather packages that provide METAR data and animated NEXRAD imagery plus current reports on precipitation, lightning, winds aloft, echo tops, turbulence, freezing levels, TFRs and more¹.
Alternatively, the GDL 52 portable receiver also provides subscription-free access in the U.S. to ADS-B Flight Information Service-Broadcast (FIS-B) weather information. With this, your compatible devices3 can display animated graphical weather plus METARs, TAFs, winds and temperatures aloft, PIREPs, NOTAMs and other features linked from ADS-B. And to help you maintain the most current weather picture, your GDL 52 receiver can queue the weather from ADS-B and/or SiriusXM while your display device is sleeping or turned off so it automatically updates when you turn the screen back on.
Great Sound Made Easy
By simply connecting a compatible Bluetooth® headset or audio panel to GDL 51/52, you can wirelessly listen to your choice of high-quality audio entertainment channels provided by SiriusXM¹. Volume adjustments and station selection may be accessed through your compatible Garmin aviation portable or mobile device app. If you prefer, a 3.5 mm stereo audio jack positioned on the side of your GDL 52 makes it easy to provide a hardwired audio out connection to an auxiliary device or audio panel in your aircraft.
Spot Potential Traffic Threats
To aid in situational awareness, GDL 52 can also receive ADS-B position reports directly from other aircraft in your vicinity. In the U.S., 2 frequencies (978 UAT and 1090 ES) are approved by the FAA for ADS-B broadcasts, so GDL 52 offers access to both frequencies. This allows you to see the most comprehensive view of all ADS-B “Out” equipped targets in your vicinity. Your compatible display4 will alert you by announcing traffic targets both audibly and visually. Spoken audio alerts announce “Traffic, Traffic” to get you looking right away.
View Enhanced Traffic Features
To further extend your traffic monitoring capability (on compatible displays), the GDL 52 receiver also allows access to our TargetTrend relative motion tracking technology. This feature gives you a faster, more intuitive way to judge the direction and closure rate of intruding targets relative to your aircraft’s position. So, rather than a fixed “snapshot” of the traffic situation, TargetTrend provides a more dynamic “velocity-based” display that shows which aircraft trajectories are most likely to converge with your own. For example, if traffic is ahead of you and traveling along the same track but at a slower rate, the motion vector would point opposite of its indicated direction of flight to show you are overtaking the traffic. The result — you’re able to make faster, better target avoidance decisions.
For airport operations, TerminalTraffic technology (a part of the comprehensive Garmin suite of Terminal Safety Solutions) enables ADS-B-equipped surface targets to be displayed on your device’s SafeTaxi® diagram so you can see what’s happening with traffic on busy runways and taxiways. ADS-B-equipped aircraft in-flight are easily distinguished from ground vehicles and taxiing aircraft, which are displayed using distinct colors and symbols. Thus, TerminalTraffic provides a clear, real-time overview of on-surface activity in the airport environment.
Built-in GPS and Attitude Sensors for SVX™ Display
In addition to its weather, traffic and audio entertainment capabilities, your GDL 51/52 feature set includes a built-in WAAS GPS receiver. This enables GDL 51/52 to deliver highly accurate aircraft position, speed and altitude information to your compatible mobile device app. Also, built-in attitude sensors enable select Garmin aviation portables and apps with our SVX synthetic vision technology to serve as a backup attitude reference5 during your flights. With virtual terrain, obstacles, runways, horizon cues, HSI, GPS speed, altitude and more, this brings a whole new perspective to your portable navigation.
Battery Power for Hours
GDL 51/52 is a true go-anywhere device. A rechargeable built-in lithium-ion battery allows GDL 51/52 to operate for up to 5 hours on a single charge. And for operation connected to power, you can plug in via the included vehicle power cable or microUSB port positioned on the side of the receiver.
