Dual-duty GPS Portable

Stepping up from the aera 500 model, aera 550 brings added features, performance, and more advanced pilot/motorist capabilities to the overall product design. Terrain/obstacles graphics are shown in higher-resolution 9 arc-second detail on the aera 550's 4.3" QVGA wide-format display (providing more than 11 times the onscreen resolution than the standard 30 arc-second versions).

As in all the aera models, the internal GPS updates at a rate of 5 times per second (5 Hz), which allows your moving map and flight data to display smoothly and continuously. In addition to detailed flight mapping, the aera 550 also comes fully preloaded with SafeTaxi® charts for many U.S., European or Canadian airports — while an included AOPA Airport Directory database gives you detailed listings, phone numbers, facilities and fuel location information on more than 7,400 U.S. landing sites, as well as airports of entry for Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. A full year of prepaid database updates is included.

Elevate Your Expectations

To enhance situational awareness, the aera 550’s graphical Terrain page offers both overhead and vertical profile views of the topography you’re flying over. To keep you aware of special airspace activity, more than 683 parachute drop zones are detailed in the Americas navigation database. Plus, a database-driven terrain advisory feature offers TAWS-like color coding and pop-up alerts when obstructions or ground proximity conflicts are projected to impact your flight path. There’s an IFR map mode that lets you navigate on high or low enroute airways. And for help with traffic separation, an optional power/data cable (sold separately) makes it easy to interface your aera 550 with the  Mode S transponder in your aircraft, thus enabling you to access and display TIS traffic alerts in busy terminal airspace throughout the U.S. You can also use the aera to load communication frequencies into your  Comm or  Nav/Comm transceiver.

Attention Road Warriors

When it’s time to hangar the airplane and head for the open road, aera 550 never misses a beat. It’s “dual boot” design enables full automotive GPS capability, graphically supported by preloaded City Navigator® NT street mapping. Operating much like our popular nüvi® line of touchscreen auto navigators, aera 550 offers voice-guided turn-by-turn directions with text-to-speech audio technology that calls out streets by name. There’s built-in Bluetooth® support for wireless hands-free calling with your compatible mobile phone. Other premium features available on aera 550 include Lane Assist with junction view, speed limit notification and traffic alerts¹. Plus, there’s a unique smart mount that helps get you on your way with instant clip-and-go transition from aircraft to automotive mode.