On this GPS, I can plan and store flights using fairly intuitive touch gestures. Much like a tablet’s, but it’s kind of a bummer because I cannot use these plans to file a flight-plan.
It does require care and feeding. Every couple weeks I have to plug it into my computer and download about two to three gigabytes of data to update the charts on to it – which is kind of a bummer because a tablet, being already connected to the internet, eliminates the need to plug it in.
One of those cycles came in the middle of America’s biggest aviation fly-in, AirVenture, or Oshkosh.
No big deal, last time I was at AirVenture, Garmin was selling the updates at the show, I’ll just update while I am there.
At the show, I learn that neither Garmin nor its vendors have ABILITY NOR PLAN to be able to update their top-of-the-line GPS. They cannot help me. And have no suggestion for helping me. I found an open WiFi hotspot on the edge of the camping area, and left my computer connected to it for four hours to download the update.
The GPS’s program is pretty static. Granted it has been updated significantly to eliminate bugs or smooth scrolling issues. But in the years I've used it, no new features. It’s pretty good. But the track log does not include altitude or airspeed, just location. It allows me to take screen shots, but they always seem to have some odd artifact across the middle.
Given that there are several tablet based alternatives with MORE FEATURES, and are EASIER to use, and BETTER supported, I would think that Garmin would be willing to simplify or compromise a bit on price. So let’s take a look a chart update prices.
The leader, ForeFlight has a two-tiered plan.
| Standard: | 74.99 / year |
| Pro: | 149.99 / year |
I fly Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), so I would need to splurge on the Pro version.
Garmin’s pricing? Golly, not really sure. (copied from Garmin's website)
Database Type
|
Region
|
Single Update Price
(USD)
|
Subscription Price
(USD)
|
|
Airport Directory
|
Americas by AC-U-KWIK
|
$49.95
|
$195.00
|
|
Atlantic by
AC-U-KWIK
|
$49.95
|
$195.00
|
||
Pacific by AC-U-KWIK
|
$49.95
|
$195.00
|
||
United States by
AOPA
|
$49.95
|
$195.00
|
||
Worldwide by
AC-U-KWIK
|
$74.95
|
$299.00
|
||
ChartView Key
|
Worldwide
|
$199.00
|
(N/A)
|
|
FliteCharts
|
Canada
|
$74.95
|
$199.95
|
|
United States
|
$74.95
|
$199.95
|
||
North America
|
$124.95
|
$299.95
|
||
Europe
|
$124.95
|
$349.95
|
||
IFR/VFR Charts
|
Austria VFR by
Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH
|
$32.00
|
(N/A)
|
|
Belgium VFR by
Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH
|
$32.00
|
(N/A)
|
||
Czech Republic VFR
by Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH
|
$32.00
|
(N/A)
|
||
Denmark VFR by
Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH
|
$32.00
|
(N/A)
|
||
Italy VFR
|
$32.00
|
(N/A)
|
||
NE France VFR by
Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH
|
$32.00
|
(N/A)
|
||
Netherlands VFR by
Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH
|
$32.00
|
(N/A)
|
||
Switzerland VFR by
Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH
|
$32.00
|
(N/A)
|
||
United States
|
$39.99
|
$99.99
|
||
W and NW Poland VFR
by Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH
|
$43.00
|
(N/A)
|
||
Germany VFR by
Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH
|
$90.00
|
(N/A)
|
||
Europe VFR without
Germany
|
$120.00
|
(N/A)
|
||
Europe VFR
|
$205.00
|
(N/A)
|
||
Europe IFR/VFR
|
(N/A)
|
$410.00
|
||
Navigation Data
|
US VFR by AeroNav
Products
|
$29.99
|
$74.99
|
|
Americas by Jeppesen
|
$49.95
|
$295.00
|
||
Atlantic by Jeppesen
|
$49.95
|
$295.00
|
||
Pacific by Jeppesen
|
$49.95
|
$295.00
|
||
Worldwide by
Jeppesen
|
$75.00
|
$450.00
|
||
Obstacle
|
Europe
|
$49.95
|
$74.99
|
|
Europe (Heli)
|
$49.95
|
$74.99
|
||
United States
|
$49.95
|
$74.99
|
||
United States (Heli)
|
$49.95
|
$74.99
|
||
SafeTaxi
|
Canada
|
$49.95
|
$195.00
|
|
United States
|
$49.95
|
$195.00
|
||
North America
|
$59.95
|
$225.00
|
||
Europe
|
$75.00
|
$299.00
|
||
Full Coverage
|
$99.00
|
$399.00
|
||
Terrain
|
Worldwide (9 Arc
Second)
|
$74.99
|
(N/A)
|
|
Or I can buy a bundle:
Name
|
Price (USD)
|
Databases Included
|
US Mini Database
Bundle
|
$99.99
|
Including US VFR
Navigation Data, Terrain, and Obstacles databases.
Save $125/year
|
US Lite Database
Bundle
|
$299.99
|
Including US VFR
Navigation, Obstacles, Terrain, SafeTaxi, Airport Directory, FliteCharts and
IFR/VFR Charts databases.
Save $615/year
|
Europe Lite Database
Bundle
|
$449.99
|
Including NavData,
Obstacles, Airport Directory, SafeTaxi, and Terrain databases.
Save $489/year
|
Americas Database
Bundle
|
$499.99
|
Including NavData,
Obstacles, Terrain, SafeTaxi, Airport Directory, FliteCharts, and IFR/VFR
Charts databases.
Save $765/year
|
Europe Database
Bundle
|
$649.99
|
Including NavData,
Obstacles, Terrain, Airport Directory, FliteCharts, and SafeTaxi databases.
Save $639/year
|
So I THINK the equivalent Pro package for flying IFR is either $299.99 or $499.99, not sure what the difference is. Either way costs me between 200% to 333% more than ForeFlight.
If Apple had not so deeply offended my sensibilities, I would probably be using ForeFlight. Maybe dealing with Apple would suck less that dealing with Garmin. It’s getting hard to tell.
