Dispatches & Bulletins
— from the RWAS avionics desk —
Blog Articles, Product Updates, and Shop Dispatches
Garmin updates, service bulletins, shop notes, and industry memos — current as of 2026-09-23.
Lead Article
Original CitationJet: What Garmin’s New Retrofit Certification Means for Owners
Garmin announced FAA supplemental type certification for an all-Garmin avionics retrofit for the original Cessna CitationJet on September 22, 2026. The announcement expands on Garmin’s existing CJ1 and CJ2 retrofit solutions. For an owner considering the next chapter for a legacy CitationJet, the important development is an integrated flight-deck modernization path—not simply a replacement screen.
Garmin’s public announcement describes two G600 TXi flight displays, GTN Xi navigators, a GFC 600 digital autopilot and a pilot-side GI 275 standby instrument. TXi engine indication replaces the legacy engine-display solution. Our perspective at RWAS is that an upgrade conversation should start with how the displays, navigation, engine information and flight guidance work together for the pilot, rather than treating each box as a separate purchase.
For this CitationJet retrofit, Garmin describes coupled VNAV descents and coupled go-around capability with the GFC 600, along with stabilized-approach monitoring and aural V-speed alerts. These are capabilities to discuss during upgrade planning and transition training, not a substitute for pilot proficiency or the aircraft’s approved operating procedures. Ask how the proposed installation will support your normal missions and how you will learn its modes and limitations.
Filed Under
garmin · citationjet
Recent Dispatches
Tour Garmin Aviation’s Salem Facility on September 17
Garmin’s 2026 Aviation Fly-In and Open House includes facility tours, avionics demonstrations, seminars, prize drawings, and dinner
Garmin Expands GFC 600 Approval for Cessna 310 Models
FAA STC approval now covers the Cessna 310P/T310P, 310Q/T310Q, and select 310R/T310R aircraft
AXIS Build-A-System Planner by RWAS
Compare certified and experimental AXIS components, follow Garmin's system-building sequence, and send your preliminary panel plan to RWAS for a compatibility review and an aircraft-specific equipment and installation quote.
More From The Desk
Avionics
GDL 60 and PlaneSync: What a Connected Aircraft Can Do Before and After Flight
A connected aircraft is not just about what happens in the cockpit. It is also about making the work around each flight more convenient: keeping databases moving, checking available aircraft information before leaving home, and getting useful records into your hands afterward.
product update
Garmin Fall 2026 Rebates: Buy and Save and G1000 NXi Upgrades
Garmin’s fall 2026 Buy and Save Certified Avionics Rebate and G1000 NXi Upgrade Rebate cover qualifying purchases from September 21 through November 15, 2026. These are customer rebates with specific equipment and purchase requirements—not a blanket discount or an installed-price quote. If an upgrade is already on your list, now is a good time to have RWAS review your aircraft, existing avionics and proposed equipment against the official terms.
press release
Tour Garmin Aviation’s Salem Facility on September 17
Garmin is inviting pilots, aircraft owners, and aviation enthusiasts to its 2026 Aviation Fly-In and Open House in Salem, Oregon, on Thursday, September 17, from 3–7 p.m. Registered guests can tour the facility, see avionics demonstrations, attend seminars, enter prize drawings, and enjoy dinner.
product update
Garmin Expands GFC 600 Approval for Cessna 310 Models
Garmin has received FAA STC approval for GFC 600 autopilot installations in additional Cessna 310-series twins, including the 310P/T310P, 310Q/T310Q, and 310R/T310R serial numbers 310R0002 through 310R0500.
product update
AXIS Build-A-System Planner by RWAS
A modern glass panel is a system, not a shopping list. Roger Wilco Aviation Services has introduced an online AXIS Build-A-System Planner that helps aircraft owners and builders work through Garmin's certified or experimental AXIS architecture in the same logical order used by the official Garmin guides.
fabrication
Custom Aircraft Panels, Printed In-House: Carbon Fiber, Wood, Leather, Abstract Art, and Beyond
An aircraft panel should do more than hold instruments. It should bring the cockpit together with a clean, professional appearance that complements the aircraft and reflects its owner.
maintenance
How to Rig Your Piper Aircraft
Ask your IA: “Do you have the rigging tools to inspect the travels of my flight controls at this annual inspection?” Most owners assume the answer is yes. In practice, many shops do not make or buy the model-specific tooling needed to measure Piper flight-control travel and neutral positions accurately.
service bulletin
Garmin SB 26091A: Part 23 GTX 3X5(R) Software Approval
Garmin Service Bulletin 26091A provides the Part 23 approval path for GTX 3X5(R) transponders installed under ADS-B AML STC SA01714WI. Master Data List Revision 24 approves GTX 3X5 main software version 2.90 and ADS-B software version 3.62, with compliance optional at the owner’s discretion.
service bulletin
Garmin SB 26019A: GTN Xi Software 21.04
Garmin Service Bulletin 26019A introduces GTN Xi main software version 21.04 and recommends compliance at the next maintenance interval for covered non-certified-aircraft installations.
service bulletin
Garmin SB 26089A: GPS 175, GNC 355 and GNX 375 Software 3.30
Garmin Service Bulletin 26089A calls for affected GPS 175, GNC 355 and GNX 375 navigators running main software version 3.22 or earlier to be upgraded to version 3.30 no later than January 29, 2027. Garmin classifies compliance as mandatory for the non-certified-aircraft installations covered by the bulletin.
product update
Introducing AXIS, A New Generation of Flight Displays
Garmin has introduced AXIS, a new family of flight displays aimed at certified piston singles and twins, experimental aircraft, and LSA panels. The headline is integration: AXIS can combine modern touchscreen flight displays with optional built-in IFR GPS, NAV/COM, and audio panel capability in a cleaner, lighter installation package.
product update
Garmin Announces 2026 Autopilot Rebate Program
Garmin has announced a 2026 autopilot rebate program, creating a useful planning window for aircraft owners who have been considering a certified Garmin autopilot upgrade.
product update
Electroair Electronic Ignition Installations Now Available Through RWAS
Roger Wilco Aviation Services is working with Electroair to support aircraft owners interested in upgrading from traditional magneto-only ignition to modern electronic ignition systems. For eligible aircraft, an Electroair installation can bring variable spark timing, high-energy ignition, and a more efficient piston-engine ignition package into a properly documented shop workflow.
product update
New D2 Mach 2 Aviator Smartwatch Promotion
Garmin is running a limited-time D2 Mach 2 aviator smartwatch promotion: customers can save $150 on qualifying D2 Mach 2 and D2 Mach 2 Pro models through June 29, 2026.
product update
Build Your Garmin Panel Concept with the New RWAS Panel Planner
Roger Wilco Aviation Services has launched a customer-facing Panel Planner that gives aircraft owners a simple way to sketch a Garmin avionics panel concept before the formal design and quote process begins.
service bulletin
Are Mandatory Service Bulletins Required?
For most Part 91 aircraft owners, a manufacturer's mandatory service bulletin is not automatically a legal requirement unless an Airworthiness Directive or another approved requirement incorporates it. Commercial operations and adopted inspection programs can differ, and safety, warranty, insurance, and resale considerations may still make compliance prudent.
regulatory
What Is a Part 145 Repair Station? How It Compares to an A&P Mechanic
A Part 145 repair station is an FAA-certificated maintenance organization, governed by 14 CFR Part 145, that may maintain or alter only the articles covered by its ratings and operations specifications. It must follow an FAA-accepted repair station manual and quality control system, train its people, and keep records the FAA can inspect at any time. An A&P, by contrast, is an individually certificated mechanic.
product update
Auto Flight Logging Now Available for G3X Touch
Garmin has expanded automatic flight log integrations for G3X Touch, giving owners a cleaner path to wireless data capture, cloud storage on flyGarmin.com, and analysis through partners including FlySto, Savvy Aviation, Navi AI, Jet-Care, and Brazos Safety Systems.
memo
Garmin Pilot Promotion Adds Value for New Subscribers
Historical promotion notice — published April 8, 2026. This archived article does not establish a currently available offer. Contact RWAS for current customer-facing terms and availability. A newly released Garmin dealer memo highlights a limited-time Garmin Pilot promotion for new subscribers, paired with a Right Seat Rewards offer available during the same campaign window. The promotion is aimed at helping pilots adopt Garmin Pilot with added subscription value while supporting spring and summer flying activity.
product update
Roger Wilco Aviation Services Launches New Website — and Introduces Captain Jerry, Your On-Call AI Avionics Expert
Roger Wilco Aviation Services has launched a completely redesigned website at rogerwilcoaviation.com — built in the style of a classic newspaper broadsheet, with a focus on substance over flash. And riding right seat on every page is Captain Jerry, the shop's AI avionics expert, ready to help aircraft owners think through Garmin upgrades, maintenance questions, Papa-Alpha rigging tools, and next steps with real technical grounding behind every answer.
product update
Garmin Offers GMA 350c Audio Panel for Cirrus Perspective+ Flight Deck Upgrades
Garmin has announced a new option to upgrade to the GMA 350c audio panel when performing the Perspective+ Flight Deck Upgrade on Cirrus SR22T, SR22, and SR20 G3 and G5 series aircraft equipped with the original Cirrus Perspective system. The GMA 350c (P/N 010-00871-41) is the only approved audio panel version for this upgrade path, listed at $2,995.
press release
Garmin Expands GFC 500 Autopilot STC Coverage to Additional Airframes
Garmin International has announced expanded STC coverage for its popular GFC 500 digital autopilot system, adding approved installations for the Beechcraft Bonanza 33/35/36 series and Mooney M20J/M20K aircraft. The expansion brings Garmin's modern autopilot technology to a broader range of the general aviation fleet.
product update
Garmin G3X Touch Software Version 8.20 Released with Enhanced Engine Monitoring
Garmin has released software version 8.20 for the G3X Touch flight display system, delivering improvements to the engine information system (EIS) pages, lean-assist functionality, and fuel flow totalizer accuracy. The update is available as a free download for all G3X Touch installations.
memo
Garmin Spring 2026 Pricing Now in Effect Across All Aviation Product Lines
Garmin's spring 2026 pricing is now active across all aviation product lines. As an authorized Garmin dealer, Roger Wilco Aviation Services has updated its pricing to reflect the new manufacturer schedules. Operators planning panel upgrades or new installations should review current pricing as part of their project planning.
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