Garmin G5000®PRIME in the D328eco®: A Cockpit Built for Precision, Adaptability, and Long-Term Value
- The Garmin G5000 Prime equips the D328eco with a fully integrated, touchscreen flight deck designed for precision, safety, and global airspace compliance.
- Its open architecture, predictive maintenance, and SAF compatibility position the aircraft as a cost-efficient and sustainable solution for regional operators.
- Built-in from day one, the system is undergoing certification and will be supported by hybrid training modules and long-term upgrade pathways.
In an exclusive interaction, Olaf Lawrenz, Chief Operating Officer of Deutsche Aircraft, discussed the integration of the Garmin G5000 Prime flight deck into the D328eco. He detailed how the system, already installed and undergoing certification testing, reflects the aircraft’s mission to combine technological innovation with operational readiness and long-term support.
As Deutsche Aircraft moves closer to the first flight of its D328eco, one of the aircraft’s most transformative innovations sits right at the front: the Garmin G5000® Prime flight deck. More than just a technological upgrade, this next-generation avionics suite is central to the aircraft’s vision, bringing together touchscreen accessibility, predictive intelligence, and long-term mission flexibility within a purpose-built regional platform.
A Pilot-Friendly Cockpit Design
The Garmin G5000 Prime introduces a modern cockpit tailored to the needs of today’s pilots. “I’m sitting on the pilot seat here. So what you can see is our new Garmin G5000 Prime, which is coming with three main displays,” Olaf shared, describing the system’s intuitive layout. The cockpit features three touchscreen displays: a primary flight display on the left, a configurable middle display, and a versatile right display, and each display can operate in full or split-screen mode. This setup allows pilots to customise their interface, ensuring critical information is always accessible.
The touchscreen interface simplifies operations with intuitive gestures. “It works like an iPad, like a touchscreen, making it easy to operate,” Olaf noted, emphasising its accessibility for pilots, particularly younger ones accustomed to digital interfaces. The primary flight display automatically adapts to flight phases, such as approaches or taxiing, while the middle display consistently shows essential data like flap settings, aileron and elevator trimming, temperature, fuel flow, and engine indications. The right display’s flexibility allows pilots to tailor their setup, enhancing situational awareness during complex operations.
Deutsche Aircraft’s official announcement at the Paris Air Show 2025 highlighted the system’s compliance with NEXTGEN standards, including Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC), Future Air Navigation System (FANS 1/A+), and Performance-Based Navigation (PBN). These features ensure the D328eco meets global airspace requirements, making it a versatile choice for operators worldwide.
Safety and Efficiency Through Advanced Features
Safety is a cornerstone of the Garmin G5000 Prime, particularly through its runway occupancy awareness system, which uses onboard sensors to guide pilots through complex airport environments. “It comes with sensors, but these sensors are on the aircraft,” Olaf explained, noting that this self-contained design eliminates the need for additional airport infrastructure. This is especially valuable at busy hubs like Paris Charles de Gaulle, where precise navigation reduces the risk of errors. “It is really a full support of this system, ensuring you stay on the correct path and avoid operational errors,” Olaf added.
The system’s open architecture supports multi-role missions, such as surveillance or humanitarian operations, by integrating operator data into the cockpit displays. “Now with the open architecture, we can adapt what the operator sees in the back,” Olaf said, illustrating how this feature streamlines crew coordination. For example, surveillance operators can focus on data collection while pilots follow pre-agreed flight paths displayed in the cockpit, reducing workload and enhancing mission efficiency.
Official sources from Deutsche Aircraft emphasise the system’s advanced automation and crew-centric design, tailored for Part 25 transport aircraft and Part 121 operations. The inclusion of fleet connectivity and integrated health monitoring further enhances efficiency by enabling predictive maintenance, which minimises downtime and reduces operational costs.
Driving Sustainability and Performance
Operational uptime is central to regional carriers, and the G5000 Prime contributes meaningfully to that objective through predictive maintenance capabilities. Instead of removing components based on scheduled intervals, often prematurely, the system evaluates real-time data to determine when servicing is actually required. This minimises aircraft downtime and reduces unnecessary maintenance events. This precision complements the D328eco’s aerodynamic design and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127XT-S engines, which are optimised for efficiency. The aircraft’s compatibility with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), including Power-to-Liquid (PtL) fuels, can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 95%, a milestone for regional aviation.
“The traditional approach meant removing parts on a schedule, even if they were in perfect condition,” Olaf explained. “With predictive monitoring, we’re able to time interventions precisely, which reduces costs and keeps the aircraft available for longer.”
This predictive approach complements the D328eco’s simplified single-lever engine control, which optimises blade pitch and reduces engine stress, thereby lowering maintenance demands by up to 30% compared to traditional turboprops. Together, they contribute to a marked drop in direct operating costs.
Deutsche Aircraft has also secured full lifecycle support from Garmin, with long-term provisions for upgrades and parts even in the face of future obsolescence.
“We wanted to avoid the problems legacy operators have faced with after-sales service, and we need to maintain and support our customers for the next 30–40 years,” said Olaf. “Our agreement with Garmin ensures that as components evolve, we can adapt seamlessly—thanks to the system’s open structure.”
This focus on continuity is especially important for operators planning multi-decade fleet deployments.
Certification-Ready
Unlike many regional aircraft retrofits, the Garmin G5000 Prime is being built into the D328eco from day one, and it’s already undergoing certification testing. The system has been installed in the manufacturer’s engineering simulator in Munich, which is certified by authorities to support flight system evaluations. Test pilots have logged over 350 hours with the new suite, ensuring it’s operationally mature before integration into flight-test aircraft.
The G5000 Prime will be part of the aircraft’s complete certification campaign, leading to type approval by late 2027. As confirmed by Deutsche Aircraft during the Paris Air Show, this marks the first integration of Garmin’s G5000 Prime on a regional passenger aircraft.
“We’re proud to be the first manufacturer to bring this system into a regional passenger aircraft,” Olaf said. “It’s a leap forward for the entire segment.”
Training for Seamless Adoption
Transitioning legacy turboprop pilots to this advanced cockpit presents an opportunity, not a challenge. Deutsche Aircraft is building a hybrid training concept that combines desktop and VR/AR modules for early familiarisation with overhead panels and flight systems. This reduces the number of hours required in full-motion simulators, cutting costs and training time.
“This is more of a cross-qualification than a full type change,” Olaf said. “It’s like moving from an A320 to an A321, similar cockpit, slightly different handling.”
The training concept will be designed and certified by Deutsche Aircraft, with delivery through approved partners. This ensures the company’s safety and quality standards extend into operational training.
Positioning the D328eco for the Future
Aligned with the company’s sustainability vision, the G5000 Prime plays a key role in helping the D328eco deliver on its environmental goals. Though the avionics do not directly affect emissions, the system’s ability to support more precise flight planning and optimised routing contributes to lower fuel burn. Combined with the D328eco’s advanced aerodynamics and PW127XT-S engines, the cockpit’s performance optimisation tools help minimise the aircraft’s carbon footprint.
With the Garmin G5000 Prime, Deutsche Aircraft has equipped the D328eco not just with a state-of-the-art cockpit, but with a flexible, certifiable, supportable system that enhances every mission profile. From integrated taxi routing to predictive maintenance and mission-ready open architecture, the avionics platform embodies what the D328eco aims to be: precise, future-proof, and purpose-built for the new era of regional aviation.
