Garmin revolutionizes aviation charting with SmartCharts

Rhea-AI Summary

Garmin (NYSE: GRMN) has introduced SmartCharts, a revolutionary dynamic aviation charting solution that simplifies terminal procedures for pilots. Initially available in the Garmin Pilot app, SmartCharts provides a data-driven approach to viewing terminal procedures, including instrument approaches, departures, arrivals, and airport diagrams. The system features intelligent filtering that shows only relevant information based on aircraft type and flight parameters, reducing pilot workload and potential errors. Key innovations include automatic minima calculations, geo-referenced vertical profile views, and enhanced airport diagrams with detailed visual information. The solution is available through Garmin Pilot Premium subscription for iOS devices in the United States and Bahamas, with a free trial option available.

Positive

• Introduction of innovative data-driven charting solution that simplifies complex aviation procedures
• Reduces pilot workload and potential for errors through intelligent information filtering
• Automatic calculation of minima adjustments, eliminating need for mental math
• First-in-industry geo-referenced vertical profile view for enhanced situational awareness
• Integration with existing Garmin Pilot platform expands functionality for current users

Negative

• Limited initial availability to iOS devices only
• Requires Premium subscription for access
• Geographic availability restricted to United States and Bahamas at launch

Insights

Aviation Technology Analyst

Garmin's SmartCharts represents a significant innovation in aviation charting, simplifying critical flight procedures for pilots with dynamic, context-aware technology.

Garmin's new SmartCharts technology represents a substantial innovation in the aviation charting space. This data-driven solution fundamentally reimagines how pilots interact with terminal procedures—including approach charts, departure procedures, and airport diagrams—by dynamically simplifying and contextualizing critical flight information.

The technology addresses a longstanding pain point in aviation: traditional charts are notoriously cluttered with excessive information that can obscure critical details. SmartCharts solves this by allowing pilots to customize what they see based on aircraft type, route transitions, and runway selections, thereby displaying only relevant information for their specific flight operation.

What makes this technology particularly valuable is its ability to reduce cognitive workload during critical phases of flight. By automating calculations for approach minima adjustments and presenting a single, clear number rather than requiring mental calculations, SmartCharts minimizes opportunities for human error in high-stress situations.

The geo-referenced vertical profile view is an industry first, showing the aircraft's position relative to the approach path, terrain, and obstacles. This feature provides enhanced situational awareness that could meaningfully improve safety during instrument approaches—statistically one of the higher-risk phases of flight.

By building this solution from digitized global aviation data, Garmin has created a platform that's both standardized and scalable. The implementation in Garmin Pilot demonstrates clear strategic positioning to enhance their aviation software ecosystem while leveraging their expertise in data-driven mapping solutions. This product strengthens Garmin's already robust position in aviation technology following their award-winning Autoland autonomous emergency landing system.

Garmin develops the first dynamic, data-driven charts tailored to simplify terminal procedures for pilots

OLATHE, Kan., May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Garmin (NYSE: GRMN) today announced SmartCharts, a dynamic aviation charting solution that will provide pilots with a simplified and intuitive experience by producing clear and relevant data to depict a chart tailored for their specific flight operation. Initially available in the Garmin Pilot^™ app, SmartCharts serves as the primary charting tool and allows pilots to view simplified terminal procedures, including instrument approach procedures (IAP), departure procedure (DP), standard terminal arrival (STAR) and airport diagrams.

"Terminal procedures have long been cluttered with outdated or superfluous information that may not be relevant to a pilot's flight, obscuring important details that could be easily missed. Garmin SmartCharts allows all pilots to quickly and easily tailor procedures to highlight the most relevant and key information in a simplified, optimized format to ultimately help to enhance safety and situational awareness."
–Phil Straub, Garmin Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Aviation

Data-driven charting solution

SmartCharts was developed from the ground up by collecting and digitizing data from global sources to create a consistent, standardized and scalable charting solution. Garmin utilized that data to build the clearest possible picture of information needed to successfully fly charted procedures via a new charting user interface. This interface, coupled with the digital data, allows SmartCharts procedures to automatically adjust and scale as the pilot zooms and pans within the chart, similar to Garmin's data-driven maps across its entire product line. This data also allows SmartCharts to highlight details and notes that could be easily overlooked and lost on traditional charts, reducing the potential for error. The ability to scale the chart creates a clearer picture of the information needed to fly instrument procedures. The digitized data also allows for adjustments to minima – such as minima height adjustments due to NOTAMs, alternate minimums, etc. – to be automatically calculated, minimizing mental math needed by pilots. This data is also used to create new Brief tabs, which show optimized briefing information presented when pilots need it during procedure reviews.  

Simplified information

SmartCharts is designed to help optimize pilot workflow by providing only relevant data and reducing workload. Users can make selections – like aircraft type, arrival/departure/approach transition fix, runway, and more – to simplify the chart down to the information that they need to see to successfully brief and fly that procedure. Starting with standard terminal arrivals (STARs) and standard instrument departures (SIDs), the user selects their aircraft type, the route transition they are flying, and the runway of intended use. This reduces depicted information to only show the routing, fixes, and crossing restrictions pertinent to their expected procedure. Quick Access buttons also reveal pertinent procedure information like briefing information, communications frequencies, graphical missed approach icons, and more so pilots can easily find and decipher needed information based on the phase of the procedure they are on.

During an approach procedure, approach minima are updated and presented to the pilot via easy selection buttons for aircraft category, approach type (e.g. ILS, LOC, LPV, LNAV, etc.) and other adjustments like local or other altimeter settings, inoperative airport lighting, flight director or HUD use, and more. Those selections then present only one minima number to reference, eliminating the need for mental math with traditional charts. Waypoints, legs, crossing restrictions and other details are then more clearly depicted on the chart as users make selections and adjustments. This ultimately removes unnecessary information from view, leaving the user with a single route in view to help reduce workload and the chance for errors.

After making selections on the chart, a simplified user-interface and layout allows for an intuitive briefing process. Pressing the Brief, COMs, and Missed Approach buttons on each procedure will quickly showcase necessary information during procedure setup and briefing, also meaning often-forgotten notes are now in the spotlight. Additionally, reselecting new transitions or the runway-in-use makes re-briefing these changes much faster and clearer, resulting in better situational awareness. Altitude and speed restrictions plus other pertinent details arelearly depicted on the SmartCharts plan view of approach, arrival and departure procedures.

In a first for the industry, the approach vertical profile view is geo-referenced¹ with the aircraft appearing on the profile at its altitude. This feature adds ultimate situational awareness of the aircraft position relative to the approach path, terrain and obstacles.

Garmin has been a long-time industry leader in making ground operations safer and simpler via SafeTaxi^® on products from integrated flight decks to Garmin Pilot. SmartCharts takes airport diagrams to the next level by adding additional visual information like airport lighting systems, hold short lines, other airport markings, windsock locations, and more. Like other SmartCharts procedures, airport diagrams also have Quick Access buttons at the top of the chart that showcase airport information like communication frequencies, runway information, and alternate minimums data. This design removes the need to memorize traditional airport symbols like non-standard alternate minimums and makes alternate minima details easily accessible.

SmartCharts data enables additional Garmin Pilot features

Garmin Pilot now includes a Show with Minima procedure sorting feature on the airport tab to help pilots more easily find SmartCharts procedures. They can sort approaches by criteria such as lowest minimums by altitude or visibility and available approach lighting. This can aid pilots by saving time in finding an approach that gets them the lowest legal minima, for instance. Additionally, recently released Smart Binders will group the charts by type – approach, departure, arrival, or airport info – in the airport tab for easier and faster searching.

SmartCharts is available via a Garmin Pilot Premium subscription for iOS devices in the United States and the Bahamas at launch. All pilots can experience SmartCharts for themselves by taking advantage of a free trial available at Garmin.com/Aviation/GarminPilot/Downloads.

To learn more, including how to use SmartCharts from chock-to-chock during operation, visit Garmin.com/SmartCharts.   

Garmin products and services have revolutionized flight and become essential to the lives of pilots and aircraft owners and operators around the world. A leading provider of solutions to general aviation, business aviation, rotorcraft, advanced air mobility, government and defense, and commercial air carrier customers, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate. Recipient of the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy for Garmin Autoland, Garmin developed the world's first certified autonomous system that activates during an emergency to control and land an aircraft without human intervention. Visit the Garmin Newsroom, email our media team, connect with @garminaviation on social, or follow our blog.

¹ Requires device with built-in GPS or compatible GPS receiver.

About Garmin International, Inc. Garmin International, Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (NYSE: GRMN). Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Garmin and SafeTaxi are registered trademarks and Garmin Pilot is a trademark of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.

All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Notice on Forward-Looking Statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. Such statements are based on management's current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors that are described in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2024 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10- Q for the quarter ended March 29, 2025 filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 001-41118). A copy of Garmin's 2024 Form 10-K and the Q1 2025 Form 10-Q can be downloaded from https://www.garmin.com/en-US/investors/sec/. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Media Contact:
Mikayla Minnick
913-397-8200
media.relations@garmin.com

 

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SOURCE Garmin International, Inc.

FAQ

What is Garmin SmartCharts and how does it benefit pilots?

Garmin SmartCharts is a dynamic aviation charting solution that simplifies terminal procedures by providing tailored, clear data for specific flight operations. It benefits pilots by reducing workload, automatically calculating minima adjustments, and providing clearer visualization of relevant flight information.

How much does Garmin (GRMN) SmartCharts cost and where is it available?

SmartCharts is available through a Garmin Pilot Premium subscription for iOS devices in the United States and Bahamas. A free trial is available at Garmin.com/Aviation/GarminPilot/Downloads.

What are the key features of Garmin's SmartCharts aviation solution?

Key features include dynamic data-driven charts, automatic minima calculations, geo-referenced vertical profile views, simplified user interface for briefings, and enhanced airport diagrams with detailed visual information.

How does Garmin SmartCharts improve aviation safety?

SmartCharts enhances safety by reducing information clutter, highlighting critical details, automating calculations, and providing clearer visualization of procedures, which helps reduce the potential for errors and improves situational awareness.

What types of procedures does Garmin SmartCharts support?

SmartCharts supports instrument approach procedures (IAP), departure procedures (DP), standard terminal arrivals (STAR), and airport diagrams, with tailored information based on aircraft type and flight parameters.