The Piper M600/SLS was designed to set the standard for safety and reliability for small luxury aircraft. Out of the many advanced features that come standard on the M600, perhaps the most innovative is the HALO™ Safety System. Unique to the M600/SLS and the Garmin G3000 avionics suite, the HALO™ Safety System includes a number of innovative safety features, such as:
- Automatic Level Mode: Returns and maintains a wings-level attitude with zero vertical speed.
- Autothrottle: A single-lever autothrottle that uses the preset flight profile to automatically adjust the aircraft’s power settings from climb-out to the landing approach.
- Hypoxia Recognition System with Automatic Descent Mode: When the autopilot is engaged above 14,900 feet, the system monitors pilot interaction for signs of hypoxia. If needed, it can pilot the aircraft to a lower altitude to allow for recovery.
- SafeTaxi®: Displays the aircraft’s position on the airfield with highly detailed, georeferenced airport maps.
- TerminalTraffic™: Increases situational awareness by integrating with SafeTaxi maps to identify all ADS-B equipped aircraft and ground vehicles.
- SurfaceWatch: Produces visual and aural cues to clearly direct you towards the correct runway for both takeoff and approach.
- Flight Stream 510: A wireless gateway that connects preflight planning from the G3000 avionics system to your mobile device.
However, the standout feature of HALO™ is, without a doubt, the addition of Garmin Autoland — a digital technology that enables your aircraft to land safely at the nearest suitable airport in the event of the pilot becoming incapacitated while in flight.
Garmin Autoland can be engaged by a passenger in the event that the pilot is no longer able to fly the aircraft. All it takes to engage the system is to press the guarded Emergency Autoland switch located just above the G3000. If the passengers don’t know how to engage Autoland, the system will automatically engage when autopilot is in LVL mode for two minutes or when Emergency Descent Mode is activated at 14,100 feet.
Autoland gains immediate situational awareness of the aircraft’s flight path and calculates the best-suited runway for making an emergency landing based on runway size and orientation, wind conditions, time, fuel range and glide path, as well as any weather conditions and terrain that may affect your path. The system assumes control of and monitors all systems necessary to deliver your passengers safely to their destination, including anti- and de-icing equipment, landing gear and flap deployment, and cabin pressurization. Simultaneously, the system will communicate key information about the aircraft’s new flight plan route and estimated time until landing with passengers and the appropriate air traffic control facilities.
Once HALO™ has landed the aircraft, the braking system will activate and bring the aircraft to a full and complete stop, at which point the engine will shut down. Once landed, passengers will be provided instructions on how to safely exit the aircraft and emergency personnel can assist all on board with the situation that necessitated Autoland’s engagement.
“The FAA certification of Autoland is a day of celebration for the entire aviation industry as we redefine the expectations of not only the pilot, but more importantly the passenger, and what should be standard equipment on general aviation aircraft.”
— Phil Straub, Vice President and Managing Director of Aviation at Garmin International
In 2020, the M600/SLS was the first Garmin Autoland equipped aircraft in the world to receive certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In 2021, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approved the HALO™ system, making the M600/SLS with Autoland available to the European market. Both certifications have paved the way for other manufacturers looking to incorporate this lifesaving technology into their aircraft, making flying safer across the industry.
Interested in learning more about Garmin Autoland, the HALO™ Safety System and the M600/SLS? Get in touch with one of our Piper dealers for more information and to schedule a test flight.
