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Colorado King Air Uses Garmin Autoland to Complete First Real-World Emergency Landing

Regulators are conducting a routine review following Garmin's confirmation of the system's first full emergency use.

Overview

  • The Beechcraft Super King Air B200 (N479BR) landed at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport on December 20 after an in-flight pressurization emergency shortly after departing Aspen.
  • Garmin said this was the first time its Emergency Autoland handled an actual emergency from activation through rollout and engine shutdown.
  • The system activated following a rapid loss of cabin pressure at about 23,000 feet, and the two pilots donned oxygen masks and chose to let it continue while they monitored.
  • Autoland selected the destination, communicated with air traffic control, flew the approach, landed, stopped on the runway, and shut down the engines with no injuries reported.
  • The FAA is reviewing the incident under standard procedures, and Garmin notes the technology is installed on roughly 1,700 aircraft.