Piper M600/SLS HALO Autoland Now Approved In Canada

Canadian operators of Piper Aircraft M600 single-engine turboprops are now cleared for the Garmin Autoland system. Piper announced Aug. 3 it has been awarded approval from Transport Canada’s Civil Aviation (TCAA) authorities for the M600/SLS HALO safety system, which includes Garmin Autoland and standalone autothrottle.

According to Piper, “If necessary, HALO takes over the controls and guides the aircraft to the nearest runway for a precision landing.” The system can be engaged manually by a passenger with a switch on the instrument panel. Sensing that a pilot is incapacitated, it also activates automatically when the autopilot is in LVL mode for two minutes or when emergency descent mode is activated at 14,100 feet. According to Piper, the Garmin GFC 700 autopilot “seamlessly integrates a flight director, autopilot, automatic trim and yaw damper into the [Garmin] G3000 suite,” navigating the aircraft to the nearest suitable airport for a fully automated landing—including ATC coordination/communication, engine shutdown and door opening.

For existing M600/SLS aircraft already operating in Canada, a retrofit kit incorporating essential HALO components, combined with a software update, will bring the full Autoland system online.

Ron Gunnarson, Piper’s VP of sales, marketing and customer support, said, “The certification of HALO in Canada is an important accomplishment for M600 owners, Piper and our Canadian dealer, Aviation Unlimited. It is our mission to bring the latest and greatest technology in our aircraft to customers worldwide.”