For more than 30 years, GPS navigation has been a central part of en-route and low-visibility aviation instrumentation. And following the full opening-up of the GPS network for civilian use in 2000, GPS was able to effectively replace many of the ground-based VOR and NDB navigation systems that pilots had used for generations.

Even for seasoned agricultural and survey pilots who cut their teeth on line-of-sight navigation, the benefits of GPS are difficult to ignore. GPS offers precise, real-time geolocation data for virtually anywhere on the planet. And because modern GPS modules offer perfect portability, a pilot can enjoy all the advantages GPS has to offer on any mobile device that’s approved for use with their electronic flight bag.

Mobility and Accuracy Give Garmin GLO-2s Receivers the Advantage

It’s a fact: with more than 13,000 fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft registered in Australia, calling the skies crowded is an understatement. And as each of these aircraft requires access to pinpoint accurate positioning at all times, a Garmin GLO-2 GPS dual constellation receiver allows pilots to know precisely where their aircraft is at all times.

GLO-2s are distinguished from other popular Bluetooth-capable aviation GPS receivers by their use of both the GPS and GLONASS satellite constellations. Their premium dual GPS functionality gives pilots unmatched multilateral time and geolocation coverage data from as many as 50 satellites, making them the ideal choice when it comes to:

• Unmatched accuracy. With a nominal operating velocity of up to 800 kts (411 m/s), the dual constellation access of a GLO-2 GPS receiver offers worldwide WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) positioning with accuracy to within 3 metres at all times.
• Super-fast, super-steady satellite locking. The GLO-2’s super-fast dual frequency locking allows it to connect to available satellites, 20% faster than a single constellation portable aviation GPS can, and to remain connected even at high airspeeds.
• Superior refresh rates. GLO-2 dual frequency GPS receiver modules offer a massive 10Hz refresh rate. That equates to a position refresh rate of up to 10 times per second, which is also 10 times more often than the receivers in most mobile devices.

At just 1.78(W) x 4.19(H) x 7.72(D)cm and weighing only 60.1g, the GLO-2’s size gives it a mobility advantage that no other GPS aviation receiver has. And with their quick Bluetooth pairing and device integration, these compact giants are the perfect on-demand VFR and backup navigation aids for flights of any duration.

Bluetooth Connectivity Brings Out the Big Benefits of GLO-2 Data

Bluetooth connectivity is the chief attribute that sets modular aviation GPS devices apart from hardwired navigation equipment. While stack mounted aircraft GPS systems offer full lateral and vertical integration with the aircraft’s power bus, antennas and electronic instrumentation, an IFR-certified unit can cost tens of thousands of dollars. 

A Bluetooth enabled GPS module like the GLO-2 costs only a fraction of what a panel-mounted unit does, while providing the most advanced real-time, dual frequency navigational data that can be viewed from any iPhone®, iPad® or Android™ wireless device.

For pilots who’ve integrated their wireless devices with their electronic flight bag (EFB), Bluetooth GPS modules like the GLO-2 offer big benefit when it comes to the following:

• Calculating the most direct flight paths when using 3D maps, as well as VFR/IFR charts;
• Simplifying flight plan filings, as well as expanding route flexibility and making more accurate fuel burn calculations;
• Increased spatial awareness, and monitoring of collision avoidance and terrain warning systems;
• Greater visibility to performance-based navigation systems around airports and within high-traffic airspaces; and,
• Improving flight logging and other trackable flight parameters.

The GLO-2’s 1150mAh lithium battery gives the compact dual Bluetooth GPS receiver 13 hours of operating time, with the option to also use it while being charged from any interior 12/28V DC power source. And because external Bluetooth GPS/GLONASS modules are compact enough to mount above any window or instrument panel, they’re able to share data with other WiFi-enabled devices on the aircraft while still benefitting from maximum reception.

A Range of Navigational Tasks For the Most Versatile GPS Receiver

While GLO-2 dual GPS receiver modules are limited to a Class 2 Standard 10 metre Bluetooth connection range, it’s still more than enough to share positional data with other wireless devices in the aircraft. GLO-2 dual Bluetooth GPS receivers are designed to connect to as many as 4 wireless devices simultaneously, making them the perfect choice for a range of navigational situations, including:

• Greater crew resource management. GLO-2 dual Bluetooth receiver modules are the perfect raw navigational data source for Multi-Crew Cooperation (MCC) environments, for pilot training or any other activity where additional wireless access to location data is required.
• Increasing workload and data sharing. Whether it’s giving cabin crews advanced notice of impending weather changes or allowing passengers to visualise precisely the terrain they’re flying over, a GLO-2 external Bluetooth GPS receiver is perfect for tracking every navigational aspect of a flight from takeoff to landing.
• Essential flight logging and recording. Onboard Flight Management System (FMS) software relies heavily on navigational data, and GLO-2 dual frequency GPS receivers make it possible for crews to easily cap off their flight logging and recording with perfectly accurate positioning data.

GLO-2 Bluetooth GPS receiver modules also boast a cold start time of under 60 seconds. That solidifies them as the fastest locking portable aircraft GPS receivers on the market, even in cold weather.

The Final Word

At the end of the day, GPS’s unrivalled accuracy has made it the most essential component in modern navigation. And as modularity and mobility have also become more integral to aviation, it’s no surprise that today’s best navigational aides would follow the same path.

Garmin’s Bluetooth GLO-2 GPS dual constellation receiver modules are the solution to every pilot’s mobile navigating concerns. They combine Garmin’s geolocating expertise with the positioning accuracy that only dual system GPS and GLONASS integration can offer. And the result is an EFB-compatible device that puts full-featured navigation at every pilot’s fingertips.