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Using the G1000

An introduction to glass cockpits in Flight Simulator
The Garmin G1000 glass cockpit is revolutionizing General Aviation, and now you
can see for yourself what all the excitement is about! The Deluxe version of Flight CONTENTS
Simulator X includes three aircraft with an optional G1000 glass cockpit variation:
Back to Welcome to the
Navigation • Cessna Skyhawk SP Model 172 The Big Picture
• Mooney M20M "Bravo"
• Beechcraft Baron 58 Controls and Key
The Primary Flig
Pick your plane, step into the cockpit, and prepare to be amazed!
The Audio Panel
The Multi Functio
Welcome to the Revolution Direct-to Navigat
The Active Flight
The G1000 takes many of the common instruments you're used to seeing on the
Instrument Flyin
panel of a small aircraft and displays them on two big computer displays.
G1000
Everything is displayed in an easy-to-read electronic format, along with some new
features too. Take it Slowly

More than anything else, the information presented on the G1000's displays—the
Primary Flight Display (PFD) and the Multi Function Display (MFD)—will increase RELATED LINKS
your situational awareness. At all times, you'll have a much better picture of the
aircraft's attitude, performance, and position. Using the GPS
Using an Autopil
There's a lot to look at, a lot to play with, and a lot to learn. In fact, the G1000's
features rival those found in the cockpits of many airliners! Once you get used to Using Views and
flying with a glass cockpit, it's hard to go back to "steam gauges." Using the Keybo
Using the Flight

In a simulator, the best way to get up to speed is to dive right in and learn by doing. Luckily, the G1000 is
function intuitively. So in this article we'll keep things at a high level. We'll provide an overview of the G10
features and how to use them to do most of the basic tasks you're used to doing while flying any airplane
Flight Rules (VFR). While we'll touch on some of the more advanced IFR features, we encourage you to vis
www.garmin.com and download the real-world G1000 manuals (free of charge) for a more detailed exp
real unit's intricacies.

What matters most

The G1000 in Flight Simulator doesn't model all of the

G1000's features (and new features are being added all
the time). It does however model most of what a typical
private pilot would use on a typical VFR or IFR flight
(using an early model G1000).

The Big Picture

Ready to learn what all those glowing screens and buttons and knobs do?

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Some Flight Simulator pilots prefer the Virtual cockpit for the immersive feeling that it provides. Others pr
graphics of the 2-D panel. Some use the 2-D cockpit for instrument flying, and the Virtual cockpit for sigh
using both with the G1000 and see which one you like best.

In Virtual cockpit view, you'll be sitting in a 3-D cockpit with the two G1000 displays in front of you. You
and out by pressing EQUAL SIGN (=) and HYPHEN (-). To look around, use the hat switch on your joys
keys on the numeric keypad, or use the thumbstick on an Xbox 360 controller for Windows. One of th
look around the cockpit is the new mouse-look feature. To learn more, see Using the Mouse.

In 2-D Cockpit view (press A to switch cockpit views), you'll be sitting in front of a 2-D G1000 PFD, with
engine gauges visible on the MFD on the right side of your monitor. You can display additional panels by c
control panel icons, or by pressing SHIFT+2 through SHIFT+6. Additional panels include:

• Autopilot
• Pop-up Multifunction display (MFD)
• Pop-up Primary Flight Display (PFD) Don't forget to look ou
• Traditional backup gauges
With two big displays to
• Engine controls and switches
hard to imagine why you
• Compass
look at anything other th
You can drag and resize any of these panels, which is particularly useful if G1000. But especially un
you have multiple monitors. You can, for example, pop-up the MFD, drag it Flight Rules (VFR), you're
to your second monitor, and resize it so that you can see both the PFD and responsible for keeping y
the MFD at the same time. separated from other airc
fixate on the G1000!

For increased visibility in

Controls and Keys Cockpit view you can rep
G1000 2-D panel with a m
The PFD and the MFD both feature the same controls and keys, which have of traditional instruments
been designed to minimize your workload as you access the G1000's or get rid of the instrume
sophisticated functionality. altogether (press W agai
also make the 2-D panel

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transparent! To learn mo
Using Views and Window

To manipulate the knobs and keys on the G1000, use the mouse just like you'd use your hand in a real co
display each control's name by moving the pointer over it.

Knobs

The G1000 includes two types of adjustment knobs: single knobs and dual knobs. Dual knobs have a large
small knob on top of it.

To rotate a knob, move the cursor across the knob. A hand with either a - (minus sign) or a + (plus sign)

• When the hand with the - appears, click to rotate the knob to the left.
• When the hand with the + appears, click to rotate the knob to the right.

To press a knob, move the cursor over the bottom of the knob until the cursor appears without a plus or
then click to press the knob.

You can also use the mouse wheel to rotate knobs. Move the cursor over the knob until the cursor change
and then roll the mouse wheel to rotate the knob.

Keys

To press a key, place the cursor over the key and click it.

Note: You can also use your computer keyboard to control the knobs and keys on the G1000. There are n
shortcuts assigned by default, but you can map them yourself. To learn more, see Using the Keyboard.

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Softkeys

Softkeys are keys that can be reconfigured via software to do different things in different situations. One b
serve multiple purposes. Softkeys along the bottom of both the PFD and MFD provide you with access to n
functions and pages in the G1000. If there is text above a softkey button, then it is an active softkey, and
button will have an effect.

Note: To return to a previous level of softkeys press the BACK softkey.

The Primary Flight Display

The Primary Flight Display (PFD) provides all the information displayed on a traditional airspeed indicator,
indicator, altimeter, vertical speed indicator, horizontal situation indicator, and turn coordinator in a mode
scan format featuring a large horizon that's easy to see. The PFD also displays communication and naviga
information, flight plan data, an inset moving map, outside air temperature, transponder status, and time

Let's explore each of these components.

NAV Frequency Window

The Navigation (NAV) frequency window displays active and standby frequencies for dual VOR/ILS receive
NAV2), as well as the identifier of a valid, identified navigation aid. The active frequency of each radio is o
and the standby frequency is on the left. The cyan-colored tuning box indicates which standby frequency w
using the NAV knob.

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To swap the standby NAV frequency and the active

NAV frequency

• Press the NAV Frequency Toggle key.

To tune the standby frequencies for the NAV

receivers

• Rotate the NAV Frequency Selector knob. The

big knob tunes MHz and the small knob tunes
kHz. To toggle the cyan-colored tuning box
between the NAV1 and NAV2 fields, press the
small knob.

Navigation Status Bar

The Navigation Status Bar displays flight plan information when flying a route created using the Flight Plan
G1000 Direct-to function:

• Next waypoint
• Distance to the next waypoint (DIS)
• Desired track to the next waypoint (DTK)
• Current track (TRK)
• Navigation annunciations

COM Frequency Window

The Communication (COM) frequency window displays active and standby frequencies for dual VHF transc
and COM2). The active frequency of each radio is on the left and the standby frequency is on the right. Th
colored tuning box indicates which standby frequency will be set using the COM knob.

To tune the standby frequencies for the COM

receivers

• Rotate the COM Frequency Selector knob. The

big knob tunes MHz and the small knob tunes

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kHz. To toggle the cyan-colored tuning box

between the COM1 and COM2 fields, press the
small knob.

To swap the standby COM frequency and the active

COM frequency

• Press the COM Frequency Toggle key.

Airspeed indicator

The Airspeed Indicator displays airspeed on a moving tape. The speed is displayed both numerically and a
on the tape, and speed ranges are shown on a color-coded strip. An airspeed trend vector (magenta line)
side of the airspeed tape indicates the approximate airspeed that will be reached in six seconds given any
acceleration.

Vspeed References (set using the TMR/REF softkey) make it easy to fly specific speeds like best glide, be
climb, and best rate-of-climb. The aircraft's true airspeed (indicated airspeed corrected for non-standard t
and pressure) is displayed below the airspeed tape.

To change Vspeeds and turn the Vspeeds bug on or

off

1. Press the TMR/REF softkey.

2. Rotate the large FMS knob to highlight the
Vspeed field.
3. Rotate the small FMS knob to select the desired
speed, and then press the ENT key. (An asterisk
appears to indicate you changed the default
speed.)
4. Rotate the large FMS knob to move the cursor to
the Off/On field.
5. Rotate the small FMS knob to select Off or On,
and then press the ENT key.
6. Press the TMR/REF softkey to close the window.

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Attitude Indicator

The aircraft's attitude relative to the horizon is displayed via the large blue sky, brown ground, and white
that extends the width of the PFD. The Attitude Indicator indicates degrees of pitch and degrees of roll.

Slip/Skid Indicator

The Slip/Skid Indicator is the small bar under the Roll Pointer. It moves away from the Roll Pointer to indi
skid, just like the ball on a traditional Turn Coordinator.

Altimeter

The Altimeter displays barometric altitude in feet on a moving tape. The altitude is displayed both numeric
tick marks on the tape. An altitude trend vector (magenta line) on the left side of the altitude tape indicat
approximate altitude that will be reached in six seconds given the current vertical speed.

A reference altitude can be set in the box above the altitude tape, and a bug on the altitude tape indicates
altitude. The selected barometric pressure is displayed below the altitude tape.

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To set the Altitude Reference bug

• Rotate the ALT knob. The large knob sets

thousands of feet and small ALT knob sets
hundreds of feet.

To set the altimeter barometric pressure

• Rotate the large BARO knob.

When an ILS is tuned in the active NAV radio, a Vertical Deviation/Glideslope Indicator appears on the left
altimeter. A green diamond indicates vertical deviation (like a glideslope needle). Marker beacon annuncia
displayed to the left of the altitude reference box.

Vertical Speed Indicator

The Vertical Speed Indicator is to the right of the altitude tape. A pointer indicates the aircraft's vertical sp
hundreds of feet.

Horizontal Situation Indicator

The Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) displays a rotating compass card with the aircraft's current headin
A heading bug on the compass rose can be set to a desired heading, and the selected heading appears in
left of the HSI.

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To set the Heading bug

• Rotate the Heading Selector knob or press the

Heading Selector knob to synchronize with the
aircraft's current heading.

Desired navigational course is indicated by a course pointer arrow just like a traditional HSI, and the selec
appears to the right of the HSI. The Course Deviation Indicator (CDI) moves to the left or right of the cou
indicate the aircraft's position relative to the course.

To set a course (NAV1 & NAV2 modes only)

• Rotate the small CRS knob to the desired course.

To change navigation sources

• Press the CDI softkey to toggle between GPS,

NAV1, NAV2, LOC1, and LOC2 (if a valid
frequency is tuned).

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Turn Rate Indicator

The Turn Rate Indicator is located above the rotating compass card on the HSI. A magenta trend vector in
heading predicted in six seconds given the current turn rate. Tick marks indicate standard and half-standa

Inset Map

The Inset Map is a smaller version of the Navigation Map on the MFD. Range can be set independently of t

To display/hide the Inset Map

• Press the INSET softkey.

To change the Inset Map scale

• Rotate the PFD Joystick knob.

To declutter the Inset Map

1. Press the INSET softkey

2. Press the DCLTR softkey

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Outside Air Temperature

The outside air temperature is displayed in degrees Celsius at the bottom left of the PFD.

Transponder Status

The selected transponder code is displayed in a box at the bottom right of the PFD.

To select a transponder code

1. Press the XPDR softkey, then press the CODE

softkey and enter a code using the number
softkeys.
2. Press the VFR softkey to enter 1200.
3. Press the BACK softkey to return to the top
level.

Local Time

The local time (LCL) is displayed to the right of the Transponder Status box.

Nearest Airports

Want to quickly navigate to one of the airports closest to your present position? Just press the NRST softk
Nearest Airports window will display above the Transponder Status and Local Time boxes.

To navigate directly to one of the nearest airports

1. Press the NRST softkey

2. Turn the FMS knob to highlight the desired
airport, and then press the Direct-to key. The
Direct-to window will appear.
3. Press the ENT key twice.

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4. Press the CDI softkey to switch to GPS

navigation mode.

The Audio Panel

The Flight Simulator G1000 Audio Panel allows you to toggle your microphone and headset between the C
COM2 radios, and to listen to the audio identifier of navigation aids.

COM MIC/COM keys

To select a communications radio as the active source for audio transmitting or receiving, press the COM1
COM2 MIC, or COM2 keys.

MKR/MUTE key

To listen to marker beacon receiver audio, press the MKR/MUTE key. When the key is not illuminated, m
audio is muted.

Aircraft Radio Input keys (NAV1, NAV2)

To listen to navigation radio audio, press the NAV1 or NAV2 keys. When a key is not illuminated, nav rad
muted.

The Multi Function Display

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The G1000's Multi Function Display (MFD) combines engine information with a full-featured GPS and movi
display. To display the MFD, press SHIFT+3.

Engine Indication System (EIS)

The G1000 Engine Indication System is displayed on the left side of the MFD and includes gauges, bar gra
numeric readouts of engine parameters.

The EIS displays all critical engine, fuel, and electrical indications. The indicators vary by aircraft, but cont
information found in traditional engine and electrical system gauges including:

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• Manifold Pressure gauge

• Tachometer
• Fuel Flow indicator
• Oil Pressure indicator
• Oil Temperature indicator
• Cylinder Head Temperature (CHT) indicator
• Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) indicator
• Turbine Inlet Temperature (TIT) indicator
• Fuel Quantity indicator
• Voltmeter
• Ammeter

(The real-world G1000 also includes a System page that displays a numeric readout of critical engine, fue
electrical indications.)

What Can I Do with a GPS?

The GPS component of the G1000 MFD can help you to:

• Determine where you are.

• Determine where your destination is.
• Determine how to get from your current location to your destination.
• See a graphic depiction of the terrain.
• Find information about airports, intersections, NDBs, and VORs.
• Locate the nearest airport, intersection, NDB, or VOR.
• Proceed direct to any airport, intersection, NDB, or VOR.
• Follow a VFR or IFR flight plan.
• Fly instrument procedures.
• Be aware of the airspace boundaries in your vicinity.

MFD Page Groups

Experience counts

The GPS/Navigation information that appears on the MFD is presented on If you know how to use t
pages, and you can only view one page at a time. Some pages are GPS 500 in Flight Simula
organized into groups of related pages, called page groups. Think of page find that you'll have an e
groups as chapters in a book, and pages as the pages within each chapter. transitioning to the G100
There are three page groups modeled in the Flight Simulator G1000. (The navigation interface and
real G1000 also includes an Auxiliary (AUX) page group, as well as some the two units are very sim
additional pages in each page group described below that are not modeled
in Flight Simulator.) If you've never used the
we encourage you to give
It's accessible in many Fl
Simulator aircraft by pres
SHIFT+3. The GPS 500
alone Global Positioning S
(GPS) receiver that you c
navigation and increased
awareness.

To learn more about usin

500, read Using the GPS

The Map (MAP) page group includes:

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• Navigation Map page

The Waypoint page group includes:

• Airport Information page

• Intersection Information page
• NDB Information page
• VOR Information page

The Nearest page group includes:

• Nearest Airports page

• Nearest Intersections page
• Nearest NDB page
• Nearest VOR page

Navigating the Pages

To move through the pages of the MFD you'll use the FMS knobs.

To select a page group

• Rotate the large FMS knob to select a page

group (MAP, WPT, or NRST).

To select a page within a page group

• Rotate the small FMS knob.

The bottom right corner of each page provides a graphical indication of which page group and page within
selected:

Additionally, the selected page group and page are displayed at the top of the MFD:

You'll also use the following keys as you work with the MFD pages:

Key Function

Clear - Press to erase information or cancel an entry. Press and hold to

return to the Navigation Map page at any time.

Enter - Press to accept a menu selection or data entry.

Menu - Press to display context-sensitive options.

Cursor - Press (small FMS knob) to access and enter data.

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Using the Cursor

When the cursor is on, you can access and enter data in different windows using the small and large FMS
the ENT and CLR keys.

To turn on the on-screen cursor

• Press the small FMS knob.

To scroll down a list of choices or information

• Press the small FMS knob to activate the cursor,

then turn the large FMS knob to scroll through
the list.

To move the cursor on a page

• Rotate the large FMS knob.

To select individual letters and numbers for input

at the highlighted cursor location

• Rotate the small FMS knob.

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Using the Navigation Map page

The Navigation Map page is the default MFD page and features a large moving map display that shows:

• Airports, airspace, navaids, and land data

• An icon representing the aircraft's present position
• The aircraft's heading

To change the Navigation map scale

• Rotate the MFD Joystick knob.

To display topographical information on the

Navigation Map

1. Press the MAP softkey.

2. Press the TOPO softkey.

To display traffic on the Navigation Map

1. Press the MAP softkey

2. Press the TRAFFIC softkey

To declutter the Navigation Map

1. Press the DCLTR softkey

Direct-to Navigation

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The G1000's Direct-to function provides a quick method of setting a course to a destination waypoint (an
NDB, or intersection). Once a Direct-to command is activated, the G1000 will establish a point-to-point (g
course line from your current position to the selected destination. The Navigation Status bar at the top o
provide steering guidance until a new destination is selected, and the CDI will indicate the direct course to
waypoint (when GPS is selected).

In addition to selecting a destination by identifier, the Direct-to page also allows you to select airports, VO
by facility name. You can also select a Direct-to destination from a list of the nearest airports.

To select a Direct-to destination

1. Press the Direct-to key, then rotate the large

FMS knob to highlight the Identifier (IDENT),
Facility, Flight Plan (FPL), or Nearest
(NRST) data fields.
2.
Use the FMS knobs to enter the desired
destination, and press the ENT key twice to
activate the Direct-to.

Recentering the CDI needle

If you're navigating to a waypoint using Direct-to and get off course, the Direct-to function may also be us
center the CDI needle and proceed to the same waypoint.

To recenter the CDI needle to the current waypoint

• Press the Direct-to key, followed by the ENT

key twice.

The Select Direct-to waypoint page always displays the nearest airports (to your current position) in the
Navigating directly to a nearby airport is just a few simple steps away.

Direct-to Shortcuts

Shortcuts are available when using the Direct-to key, allowing you to bypass the use of the FMS knobs to
destination waypoint's identifier. You can set a Direct-to course from any page displaying a single waypoin
(such as the WPT pages for airports and navigation aids) by simply pressing the Direct-to key and then

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twice. For pages that display a list of waypoints (e.g., the Nearest Airport page), you must highlight the
waypoint with the cursor before pressing the Direct-to key.

Another tip: once you have one letter or number entered into a datafield, you can type the rest of the wo
keyboard instead of having to rotate the FMS knobs. (This is not a feature of the real G1000, but it saves
you're "twisting" with a mouse!)

The Active Flight Plan Page

If you create a VFR or IFR flight plan using the Flight Planner, Flight Simulator will automatically load the f
the GPS and activate the plan for use in navigation. (For more information, see Using the Flight Planner.)
Flight Plan page provides information for the active flight plan or a Direct-to navigation course.

To select the Active Flight Plan page

• Press the FPL key.

Note: You cannot create flight plans directly in the Flight Simulator G1000. Instead, you must use the Flig
Flight Planner. The flight plan automatically loads into the GPS and is activated for use.

With an activated Direct-to course or flight plan loaded, the Active Flight Plan page displays each waypo
flight plan (or a single waypoint for a Direct-to), along with the desired track (DTK) and distance (DIS) for

On the Active Flight Plan page, you can select any leg as the active leg within the active flight plan (the
currently be used for navigation guidance), using the MENU key.

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The OBS key is used to suspend and enable automatic sequencing of waypoints in a flight plan. Pressing t
suspends waypoint sequencing, holds your currently active To waypoint as your navigation reference, and
GPS from sequencing to the next waypoint. A SUSP message displays directly above the OBS key. When
OBS mode, automatic waypoint sequencing resumes, and the GPS automatically selects the next waypoin
plan once the aircraft has crossed the currently active waypoint.

Instrument Flying with the G1000

As you can imagine, the G1000 makes instrument flying a much safer, more enjoyable experience. A thor
discussion of the G1000's IFR capabilities is beyond the scope of this article. If you want to learn more:

• Visit www.garmin.com and download the real-world G1000 manuals (free of charge).
• Visit www.FSInsider.com for articles about all aspects of flight simulation, including instrument
and flying with the G1000.
• Read Using the GPS, which explains how to use the G1000's little brother, the GPS 500, for both V
flying.

Take it Slowly

If you're a bit intimidated by all there is to learn about the G1000, there's a secret: you don't have to kno
everything to use it effectively. So pick a G1000-equipped Flight Simulator aircraft of your choice and go f
slowly, and focus on learning to use the Primary Flight Display and Engine Indication System on easy VFR
you get comfortable flying in a glass cockpit, start playing with the MFD, explore all the page groups and p
start using Direct-to navigation.

Then, start planning longer flights with the Flight Simulator flight planner and fly them using the G1000. D
reading, and when you're ready, dive into the world of glass cockpit instrument flying. That's where you'll
G1000 really shine.

Most of all, play around, experiment, and have fun!

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