I also find the flyGarmin website very confusing. I have a G3X and a GTN650, and I am trying to figure out what I need for VFR with the occasional IFR flight.
I see "Database Bundles" and "Pilot Paks" and I am having a hard time figuring out how they are different.
Hello Ed,
Happy to help out with this. Put simply, a G3X Database Bundle includes databases for a G3X system, and the Pilot Pak is a database subscription for a G3X system with a GTN650/750.
So, is it as simple as choosing the Pilot Pak if you have a GTN and a Database Bundle if you don't? Not really.
With those big G3X displays, it is optional to keep all of the databases updated on the GTN 650. You could instead install EVERY database on a G3X/G3X Touch system for only $149.99/yr and only buy a Jepp NAV IFR database for the GTN. Jepp NAV database updates for the GTN are presently $195 for a single Americas update and $585/yr. The Jepp NAV database subscription can be added to your FlyGarmin account, so you just have to go one place on the web to download all of your database updates each month for your G3X system with a GTN 650.
When you are flying IFR enroute or IFR procedures with the GTN, it shares its straight and curved path leg segments with the G3X system enabling G3X to accurately render the same information on the map and sectional charts including missed approaches and holding patterns - even when the G3X system doesn't have a Jepp IFR Nav database.
These are the two database bundles available for G3X/G3X Touch systems. This is a system subscription that covers all of the G3X displays in the system.
US Mini Database Bundle for G3X/G3X Touch Systems $49.99/yr ($4.17/mo)
Includes the following databases, updated as often as you like using an SD card in the display:
- US VFR Navigation Data (airports, runways, frequencies)
- Obstacles (e.g. towers - used to provide obstacle visual and aural alerting including obstacle depiction in synthetic vision)
- Terrain (used to render synthetic vision and provide terrain alerting)
- SafeTaxi (airport diagrams integrated into moving map that are displayed and zoomed automatically when you need them for taxi and landing)
US Lite Database Bundle for G3X/G3X Touch Systems $149.99/yr ($12.50/mo)
Includes the following 7 databases, updated as often as you like using an SD card in the display:
- US VFR Navigation Data (airports, runways, frequencies)
- Obstacles (e.g. towers - used to provide obstacle visual and aural alerting including obstacle depiction in synthetic vision)
- Terrain (used to render synthetic vision and provide terrain alerting)
- FliteCharts (Geo-referenced IFR approach plates, airport diagrams, arrival and departure procedures)
- SafeTaxi (airport diagrams integrated into moving map that are displayed and zoomed automatically when you need them for taxi and landing)
- Airport Directory (FBOs, runways, hours of operation, rental cars, etc)
- IFR/VFR Charts (VFR sectionals and IFR Hi/Lo charts, G3X Touch only)
In reference to the original poster's questions, and in defense of another poster's claim that our database prices are ridiculous, we want to provide some clarification.
While it is true that Garmin doesn't provide free databases, it is also true that Garmin doesn't charge $500 extra for navigation mapping software.
So, let's see how that $500 might otherwise be used. For the same $500 you might pay up front for another system, you could buy
10 years worth of US Mini Databases, and not only would you receive Navigation, Obstacle, and Terrain databases, but you would also receive SafeTaxi database updates which provides airport diagrams integrated into the moving map.
Now let's take this a step further and say you wanted to also include VFR sectionals, IFR HI/LO charts, airport diagrams and approach plates for your system. For another system you might need to contract with a 3rd party and pay $99/yr, and with your G3X system you would need to add the same $99 to the base subscription to upgrade to the US Lite Database Bundle for $149.99/yr and would receive those databases plus the AOPA Airport directory. So, for the first 10 years of operation, you would pay the same for both systems, but receive much more data, and from a single supplier, when using the G3X system.
We have a dedicated database team under our roof that works very hard to acquire data from around the world and make this data available to our customers. This group follows
DO-200A processes, as required, to provide assurances that the quality of the data is as high as possible. We are quite proud of the value offered by these two affordable database bundles offered for G3X systems, and don't mind being very open and transparent about these costs.
Thanks,
Steve