The decade from 2010 to 2019 for General Aviation was one of tremendous technological progress, from computer watches to autonomous flight control. Manufacturers also launched some amazing new planes, including a jet from Cirrus, the incredible globetrotting Gulfstream G650, a remarkable diesel twin, the DA-62, from Diamond, among others. At the same time we in GA continued to fight against onerous regulation, often but not always successfully, while working to keep the activity we love open, accessible and fun, challenges that won’t end with a new decade but that will certainly be met by a population of passionate aviators focusing on what really matters, the joy and freedom of flight.
Garmin Automation
Over the past decade and change, Garmin has transformed the face of aircraft flight control with the introduction of a number of groundbreaking products, all of them for light GA aircraft (in addition to larger, Part 25 planes, too). These include ESP envelope protection and Autoland, which can, without human intervention, configure a small plane to land and come to a complete stop at an airport it selects.