Your Garmin, Your Story ...
We're constantly amazed at the positive feedback we get from people who use our products for just about anything you can imagine. Their stories range from geocaching to surviving life-threatening situations.
Scroll below to read about testimonials for this product and don't forget to check out the amazing testimonials and human interest stories on our Garmin Blog!
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"The most useful instrument in his panel: The GTX 330"
For my newly completed GlaStar, I was relying on a traffic alert system that could only squawk "Traffic Nearby, Traffic Nearby". In good VFR I was always looking anyway, and I needed better guidence if the instrument were to be of any value. So I pulled my nearly new Mode C transponder and replaced it with a Garmin GTX 330. A great transponder (I no longer hear Center say that they've lost my target), and the timer and other features are great. But the big difference is the Traffic Information System.
The TIS function on the GTX 330 has, without a doubt, saved me from a close encounter of the final kind at least three times—including two just yesterday. Last year, enroute to Oshkosh just west of Chicago, we were talking with approach when TIS clued us in to additional traffic. Approach either did not see the traffic or was too busy to point it out, but we made a heading change and passed by the traffic with a half mile to spare. That was my first trip with the GTX 330 and it has always proven useful.
Last night, while doing instrument approaches under the hood in late evening hazy air, our attention was divided. Suddenly the TIS screen popped up displaying a possible conflict 100 feet above us. We scanned for the displayed range and bearing and saw nothing. At one mile range, we began a precautionary descent and the trafic passed over us—unseen until 10 seconds prior to crossing. The same thing happened about 30 minutes later, when we decided to change our practice area and altitude. My CFII check pilot wondered aloud how often this had occurred to him in the past and he had simply been unaware of the near misses.
When I display my panel to other pilots and they oogle at the Garmin 430, StrikeFinder, and Sandel 3308 EHSI, I tell them that the most useful instrument is my Garmin GTX 330. The most important things for pilots are runway ahead, fuel in the tanks, altitude below, and a Garmin GTX 330 in the panel!
Best regards, and thanks guys,
R. M. S.
GlaStar N161GS
Columbus, OH
"Life-saving GTX 330"
I am very excited about the GTX330. I tell my pilot friends to re-finance their house, if they have to, in order to buy this unit. I am convinced it saved my life in the first week of operation.
It was a crystal-clear day. I was flying my Aztec from Westchester to Martha's Vineyard with VFR advisories. Eight miles west of Block Island, the TIS alerted a 2-mile, 10-o'clock Piper Cherokee on a dead-on collision course at exactly the same altitude. No report from Center. I pulled up, and the Cherokee went right under me with no indication that they'd seen me—so close I could count rivets on the wing! In the 7 months I've owned the unit, this fact pattern has repeated 6-7 times. You don't realize how much traffic is out there...how much is not reported to you with VFR center advisories (especially in busy corridors), and how difficult it is to "see and avoid" without some help. Another great use of the unit is knowing when to turn base from the downwind when the tower says, "You're number three, following two on straight in final." The in-trail traffic clearly appears on the display, making it clear when it's safe to turn base.
This is a must have!
H. B. F.
Greenwich, CT
"Garmin avionics fan puts the GTX 330 to the test"
Last week we installed a new Garmin GTX 330 transponder in our Cessna 340, mating it with the existing GNS 530. This weekend I flew from Lincoln, NE to/from the Washington, D.C. area, and I got to put the 330 to the test.
Rarely have I been so overwhelmingly impressed with a product as I was with the 330! Time and time again, ATC would call traffic and I would pick it up on the 330/530 before acquiring it visually. Many times, the actual location of the target was different from where ATC had called it. I believe that the 330 offers a dramatic increase in operational safety for a very modest price. In fact, we had originally considered a 327 to replace an aging King transponder in our aircraft. The difference to step up to the 330 was about $3,000—the best $3,000 I've ever spent on our airplane!
I started out buying a Garmin GPSMAP 195. Since then, I've moved up to a 295 and then to a 530. In each case, I felt that the product, and the support we received from Garmin, exceeded our expectations. The GTX 330 continues that trend.
The last time I felt this strongly about a product was when we bought the 530! Keep up the great work!
B. J.
"Pitts S-2C pilot flies with the GTX 330"
Dear Garmin:
I just replaced my Garmin 250 XL and old transponder with a new Garmin GNC 420 & GTX 330. My desire was to take advantage of the new TIS technology since the in-flight visibility of my Pitts S-2C is somewhat restricted. I have flown with the new GPS/transponder package four times within the last week. I am happy to report to you that the new TIS capability has helped me avoid several near misses already. It may have already saved my life!
Thank you very much for making this technology available to light airplanes!
Sincerely,
B. R.
Pitts S-2C Owner
A-320 Airbus Captain
Eagan, MN
