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Author Topic: KingAir Autoland at KBJC due to pilot incapacitation  (Read 129 times)

Offline Rick

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KingAir Autoland at KBJC due to pilot incapacitation
« on: December 21, 2025, 14:58:32 UTC »

The Garmin "autoland" feature saves a King Air after the pilot became incapacitated.  Condensed audio is attached - interesting to hear the computer announcing to ATC.  I couldn't find the approach frequency to get the initial calls, but you can hear the tower controller start moving aircraft out of the way and telling them about the incoming King Air, and then the subsequent announcements by the plane.


Autoland Saves King Air, Everyone Reported Safe - AvBrief.com


N479BR Flight Tracking and History 20-Dec-2025 (KASE-KBJC) - FlightAware



Offline RonR

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Re: KingAir Autoland at KBJC due to pilot incapacitation
« Reply #1 on: Today at 13:47:05 »
Apparently they had a pressurization issue enroute... wonder if this system activates itself somehow or if it has to be activated manually...

Offline Rick

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Re: KingAir Autoland at KBJC due to pilot incapacitation
« Reply #2 on: Today at 14:45:05 »
Apparently they had a pressurization issue enroute... wonder if this system activates itself somehow or if it has to be activated manually...
I've never had the luxury of having Autoland in any of my planes, but I believe Garmin Autoland software activates automatically under certain conditions.  I think the G1000/3000 notices when the pilot doesn't interact with the screen for a period of time and asks the pilot to acknowledge that he/she is still ok.  If there is no response, then autoland automatically kicks in.  The pilot can always turn it off at any time and take back control (maybe they regain consciousness after a descent to a lower altitude, for example).  There is also a button that a passenger (or pilot!) can push if the pilot becomes incapacitated for any reason that starts the autoland sequence.

Offline diskus

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Re: KingAir Autoland at KBJC due to pilot incapacitation
« Reply #3 on: Today at 16:14:06 »
So would it then simplify proceed to the nearest airfield? 
« Last Edit: Today at 18:22:17 by diskus »

Offline Rick

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Re: KingAir Autoland at KBJC due to pilot incapacitation
« Reply #4 on: Today at 18:00:21 »
So would ittben sinply proceed to the nearest airfield?
It will only pick airports that meet its criteria - hard-surface, long enough for a successful landing, instrument approach available, etc.
Here is a link to some Autoland FAQs: https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=J7xLDwJyjy0sCg3uQJRQi8
And here is a link to a flight trial video showing what it looks like from the cockpit:
Pretty amazing technology!

Offline RonR

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Re: KingAir Autoland at KBJC due to pilot incapacitation
« Reply #5 on: Today at 18:36:30 »
Thanks for all that Rick. That is exceptionally amazing technology.  It certainly it's job with that King Air!  Kudos to Garmin for sure!

Ron