Embraer’s Phenom 100 and 300 light jets equipped with the Garmin G1000-based Prodigy Flight Deck will be upgradeable to the G1000 NXi configuration under an STC that is targeted for approval in the first quarter of 2019. The G1000 NXi adds new displays with faster processors, HSI map overlays, visual approaches, SurfaceWatch runway monitoring, and the Flight Stream 510 wireless gateway. The upgrade will be available from some Garmin dealers and from Embraer service centers.

With the G1000 NXi, the HSI map overlay allows pilots to view Nexrad, FIS-B weather, weather radar, SafeTaxi airport diagrams, traffic, terrain, and other information on the HSI, instead of having to look over at the MFD or PFD inset (for some of this information). In addition, visual approaches can be selected from the procedures menu, just like a normal instrument approach, and provide a three-degree glideslope from the runway threshold. Once the glideslope is selected, the pilot can set minimums and choose vectors or straight-in to intercept the final approach. Visual approaches can also be flown coupled to the autopilot.

Further, the NXi package adds the Flight Stream 510 and Connext technology, via an MMS card installed in the face of one of the G1000 displays. This allows transferring of database updates from the Garmin Pilot app wirelessly into the G1000, as well as two-way flight plan sharing, and sharing traffic, weather, GPS, backup attitude, and other information between the G1000 and a mobile device.

Other NXi features for the Phenom upgrade include overlay of European visual reporting points on moving maps; display of sectional charts and IFR low/high en route charts on the MFD; highlighting of nearby airspace, and non-pertinent airspace de-emphasized via the Smart Airspace function; decoded com frequencies displayed underneath radio frequencies on the PFD; and the ability to view decoded terminal aerodrome forecasts.