Garmin AERA 660 Manual

model: 660
™
Pilot's Guide

OVERVIEW
NAVIGATION
FLIGHT PLANNING
HAZARD AVOIDANCE
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
APPENDICES
INDEX

Copyright © 2016 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved.
This manual reflects the operation of System Software version 1.0 or later. Some differences
in operation may be observed when comparing the information in this manual to earlier or
later software versions.
Garmin International, Inc., 1200 East 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas 66062, U.S.A.
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Aircraft On Ground (AOG) Hotline: [phone]
Aviation Dealer Technical Support: 888.606.5482
Garmin AT, Inc.,2345 Turner Road SE, Salem, OR 97302, U.S.A.
Tel: [phone] Fax [phone]
Garmin (Europe) Ltd., Liberty House, Hounsdown Business Park, Southampton,
Hampshire SO40 9LR U.K.
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Aviation Support: [phone]
Garmin Corporation, No. 68, Zhangshu 2nd Road, Xizhi District, New Taipei City,
Taiwan
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Web Site Address: www.garmin.com
Except as expressly provided herein, no part of this manual may be reproduced, copied,
transmitted, disseminated, downloaded or stored in any storage medium, for any purpose
without the express written permission of Garmin. Garmin hereby grants permission to
download a single copy of this manual and of any revision to this manual onto a hard
drive or other electronic storage medium to be viewed for personal use, provided that such
electronic or printed copy of this manual or revision must contain the complete text of this
copyright notice and provided further that any unauthorized commercial distribution of this
manual or any revision hereto is strictly prohibited.

Garmin®, ANT+®, FliteCharts®, SafeTaxi®, and MapSource®are registered trademarks of
Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. aera™is a trademark of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.
These trademarks may not be used without the express permission of Garmin.
This product is ANT+® certified. Visit www.thisisant.com/directory for a list of compatible
products and apps.
Jeppesen®is a registered trademark of Jeppesen, Inc.
NavData™is a trademark of Jeppesen, Inc.
AC-U-KWIK® is a registered trademark of Penton Business Media, Inc.
©2016 The Bluetooth®word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth
SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Garmin is under license. Other trademarks and trade
names are those of their respective owners.
March, 2016 190-02017-20 Rev. A

Garmin aera 660 Pilot’s Guide
190-02017-20 Rev. A
Warnings, Cautions & Notes
WARNING: When installing the aera
™
, place the unit so it does not obstruct
the field of view or interfere with operating controls.
WARNING: The indicators represented on the Panel are based on GPS-derived
data and may differ from the instruments in the aircraft.
WARNING: Navigation and terrain separation must NOT be predicated upon
the use of the terrain function. The aera Terrain Proximity feature is NOT
intended to be used as a primary reference for terrain avoidance and does not
relieve the pilot from the responsibility of being aware of surroundings during
flight. The Terrain Proximity feature is only to be used as an aid for terrain
avoidance and is not certified for use in applications requiring a certified
terrain awareness system. Terrain data is obtained from third party sources.
Garmin is not able to independently verify the accuracy of the terrain data.
WARNING: The displayed minimum safe altitudes (MSAs) are only advisory
in nature and should not be relied upon as the sole source of obstacle and
terrain avoidance information. Always refer to current aeronautical charts
for appropriate minimum clearance altitudes.
WARNING: The altitude calculated by the GPS and GLONASS receivers is
geometric height above Mean Sea Level and could vary significantly from
the altitude displayed by pressure altimeters.
WARNING: Do not use outdated database information. Databases used in the
aera system must be updated regularly in order to ensure that the information
remains current. Pilots using any outdated database do so entirely at their
own risk.
WARNING: Do not use data link weather information for maneuvering in,
near, or around areas of hazardous weather. Information contained within
data link weather products may not accurately depict current weather
conditions.

Garmin aera 660 Pilot’s Guide
190-02017-20 Rev. A
Warnings, Cautions & Notes
WARNING: Do not use the indicated data link weather product age to
determine the age of the weather information shown by the data link weather
product. Due to time delays inherent in gathering and processing weather
data for data link transmission, the weather information shown by the data
link weather product may be significantly older than the indicated weather
product age.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of unsafe operation, carefully review and
understand all aspects of the aera Pilot’s Guide documentation and the Pilot’s
Operating Handbook of the aircraft. Thoroughly practice basic operation
prior to actual use. During flight operations, carefully compare indications
from the aera to all available navigation sources, including the information
from other NAVAIDs, visual sightings, charts, etc. For safety purposes, always
resolve any discrepancies before continuing navigation.
WARNING: The Garmin aera has a very high degree of functional integrity.
However, the pilot must recognize that providing monitoring and/or self-test
capability for all conceivable system failures is not practical. Although unlikely,
it may be possible for erroneous operation to occur without a fault indication
shown by the aera. It is thus the responsibility of the pilot to detect such
an occurrence by means of cross-checking with all redundant or correlated
information available in the cockpit.
WARNING: For safety reasons, aera operational procedures must be learned
on the ground.
WARNING: The government entities operating the satellite-based navigation
systems (GPS/GLONASS) are solely responsible for their accuracy and
maintenance. The satellite-based navigation systems are subject to changes
which could affect the accuracy and performance of all GPS/GLONASS
equipment. Portions of the system utilize GPS/GLONASS as a precision
electronic NAVigation AID (NAVAID). Therefore, as with all NAVAIDs,
information presented by the system can be misused or misinterpreted and,
therefore, become unsafe.

Garmin aera 660 Pilot’s Guide
190-02017-20 Rev. A
Warnings, Cautions & Notes
WARNING: The data contained in the terrain and obstacle databases comes
from government agencies. Garmin accurately processes and cross-validates
the data, but cannot guarantee the accuracy and completeness of the data.
WARNING: Do not use basemap (land and water data) information for
primary navigation. Basemap data is intended only to supplement other
approved navigation data sources and should be considered as an aid to
enhance situational awareness.
WARNING: Do not rely solely upon the display of traffic information for col-
lision avoidance maneuvering. The traffic display does not provide collision
avoidance resolution advisories and does not, under any circumstances or
conditions, relieve the pilot’s responsibility to see and avoid other aircraft.
WARNING: Do not rely solely upon the display of traffic information to
accurately depict all of the traffic within range of the aircraft. Due to lack
of equipment, poor signal reception, and/or inaccurate information from
aircraft or ground stations, traffic may be present that is not represented on
the display.
CAUTION: The display uses a lens coated with a special coating that is very
sensitive to abrasive cleaners. AVOID CHEMICAL CLEANERSAND SOLVENTS
THAT WILL HARM THE SPECIAL COATING. It is very important when cleaning
the touchscreen to use a clean, lint-free cloth (lightly dampened with water,
if necessary).
CAUTION: The Garmin aera does not contain any user-serviceable parts.
Repairs should only be made by an authorized Garmin service center.
Unauthorized repairs or modifications could void both the warranty and the
pilot’s authority to operate this device under FAA/FCC regulations.
NOTE: All visual depictions contained within this document, including screen
images of the aera panel and displays, are subject to change and may not
reflect the most current aera system and aviation databases. Depictions of
equipment may differ slightly from the actual equipment.

Garmin aera 660 Pilot’s Guide
190-02017-20 Rev. A
Warnings, Cautions & Notes
NOTE: This product, its packaging, and its components contain chemicals
known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or reproductive
harm. This notice is being provided in accordance with California’s Proposition
65. For questions or additional information, please refer to our web site at
www.garmin.com/prop65.
NOTE: Use of polarized eyewear may cause the display to appear dim or
blank.
NOTE: Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) data is provided by the FAA and
may not be updated outside of normal business hours. Confirm data currency
through alternate sources and contact the local FSS for interpretation of TFR
data.

Garmin aera 660 Pilot’s Guide
190-02017-20 Rev. A
Warnings, Cautions & Notes
Blank Page

Garmin aera 660 Pilot’s Guide
190-02017-20 Rev. A RR-11
Part Number Change Summary
190-02017-20 Initial release
Rev Date Description
A March, 2016 Production Release

Garmin aera 660 Pilot’s Guide
190-02017-20 Rev. A
RR-12
Blank Page

Garmin aera 660 Pilot’s Guide
190-02017-20 Rev. A i
Table of Contents
SECTION 1 OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Unit Overview .................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Getting Started.................................................................................................................. 2
Battery Installation............................................................................................................... 2
Charging the Battery ............................................................................................................ 3
Mounting the aera in the Aircraft.......................................................................................... 3
Turning the Unit On/Off........................................................................................................ 4
GNSS Receiver Status........................................................................................................... 4
Display Orientation............................................................................................................... 6
1.3 Operation............................................................................................................................ 7
Basic Touchscreen Operation ................................................................................................ 7
Dedicated Page Icons ........................................................................................................... 8
Main Menu........................................................................................................................ 10
1.4 Accessing System Functionality................................................................................... 14
Option Menus.................................................................................................................... 14
Data Entry.......................................................................................................................... 15
1.5 Using Map Displays......................................................................................................... 17
Map Range........................................................................................................................ 17
Map Panning ..................................................................................................................... 19
Map Overlays..................................................................................................................... 21
Map Symbols ..................................................................................................................... 22
MAP Detail ........................................................................................................................ 22
1.6 System Settings............................................................................................................... 23
Display............................................................................................................................... 23
Sound................................................................................................................................ 25
Map Setup......................................................................................................................... 26
Data Link Setup.................................................................................................................. 27
Bluetooth®......................................................................................................................... 27
WiFi Setup ......................................................................................................................... 28
3d Vision Setup .................................................................................................................. 28
Additional Settings............................................................................................................. 28
1.7 Nearest Airport Criteria Settings ................................................................................ 30
1.8 Present Position............................................................................................................... 31
1.9 New Location ................................................................................................................... 32
1.10 Simulator Mode............................................................................................................. 32
SECTION 2 NAVIGATION......................................................................................................... 35
2.1 Introduction...................................................................................................................... 35
Data Fields......................................................................................................................... 36
Compass Arc...................................................................................................................... 38
2.2 3D Vision............................................................................................................................ 39
3D Vision Operation ........................................................................................................... 40

Garmin aera 660 Pilot’s Guide
190-02017-20 Rev. A
ii
Table of Contents
2.3 Vertical Navigation (VNAV) ........................................................................................... 43
Using the VNAV Feature ..................................................................................................... 44
2.4 Map Display Setup.......................................................................................................... 46
Map Orientation................................................................................................................. 46
Airports, Navaids, Cities & Roads ........................................................................................ 47
Airways.............................................................................................................................. 48
2.5 Waypoints ......................................................................................................................... 49
Nearest Information ........................................................................................................... 52
Weather and NOTAM Information (Optional) ...................................................................... 54
Accessing Additional information........................................................................................ 56
2.6 Direct-to Navigation....................................................................................................... 67
SECTION 3 FLIGHT PLANNING............................................................................................. 69
3.1 Introduction...................................................................................................................... 69
Data Fields......................................................................................................................... 69
3.2 Flight Plan Creation........................................................................................................ 70
Adding Waypoints to an Existing Flight Plan........................................................................ 72
3.3 Flight Plan Storage ......................................................................................................... 74
3.4 Flight Plan Activation..................................................................................................... 74
Editing Speed and Fuel Flow............................................................................................... 75
Copying Flight Plans........................................................................................................... 76
Inverting a Flight Plan ........................................................................................................ 77
3.5 Approaches....................................................................................................................... 77
Selecting an Approach........................................................................................................ 78
Activating Vectors-to-Final.................................................................................................. 80
SECTION 4 HAZARD AVOIDANCE ........................................................................................ 81
4.1 Weather ............................................................................................................................. 81
Data Link weather (FIS-B)................................................................................................... 81
4.2 Terrain................................................................................................................................ 93
Terrain Information............................................................................................................. 94
Obstacle Information.......................................................................................................... 94
Terrain and Obstacle Color Code......................................................................................... 95
Terrain Views...................................................................................................................... 95
Terrain Alerts & Setup......................................................................................................... 96
4.3 Traffic ................................................................................................................................. 99
Traffic Information Service (TIS-A) ....................................................................................... 99
Traffic Ground Track ......................................................................................................... 100
Displaying Traffic Data...................................................................................................... 100
Data Link Traffic ............................................................................................................... 101

Garmin aera 660 Pilot’s Guide
190-02017-20 Rev. A iii
Table of Contents
SECTION 5 ADDITIONAL FEATURES................................................................................ 113
5.1 SafeTaxi ........................................................................................................................... 113
SafeTaxi Cycle Number and Revision................................................................................. 114
5.2 Airport Directory Data................................................................................................. 114
Fuel Prices ....................................................................................................................... 116
SECTION 6 APPENDICES....................................................................................................... 117
Appendix A: Messages, Alerts & Data Field Options ................................................... 117
Miscellaneous Message Advisories.................................................................................... 117
Airspace Messages........................................................................................................... 119
Data Field & Numeric Data Options .................................................................................. 119
Aural Alerts...................................................................................................................... 121
Appendix B: Abnormal Operation.................................................................................... 123
Loss of GNSS Position....................................................................................................... 123
Hazard Display with Loss of GNSS Position ....................................................................... 123
Appendix C: Managing Files and Databases.................................................................. 125
Connecting to a Computer ............................................................................................... 125
Managing Files ................................................................................................................ 126
MicroSD™Card Use (Optional) ......................................................................................... 127
Database Types ................................................................................................................ 128
Database Purchase, Installation, and Updates ................................................................... 130
Appendix D: Installation and Interfacing....................................................................... 133
Mounting the aera in the Aircraft...................................................................................... 133
Connecting to a Garmin VHF Comm Radio........................................................................ 137
Information about USB Drivers ......................................................................................... 139
Interfacing ....................................................................................................................... 139
Connecting to a GTX 330 Mode S Transponder ................................................................. 141
Connecting to a GDL 39/GDL 39R .................................................................................... 142
Connecting to a GTX 345................................................................................................. 145
Appendix E: Battery and Care Information ................................................................... 147
Battery Information .......................................................................................................... 147
Changing the Fuse ........................................................................................................... 147
Cleaning the Casing......................................................................................................... 148
Cleaning the Touchscreen................................................................................................. 148
Protecting the Unit........................................................................................................... 148
Avoiding Theft.................................................................................................................. 149
Appendix F: General TIS-A Information.......................................................................... 151
TIS-A vs. TAS/TCAS........................................................................................................... 151
TIS-A Limitations.............................................................................................................. 152

Garmin aera 660 Pilot’s Guide
190-02017-20 Rev. A
iv
Table of Contents
Appendix G: Utilities ........................................................................................................... 155
Flight Log......................................................................................................................... 155
Track Log ......................................................................................................................... 156
Track Vector ..................................................................................................................... 158
E6B Calculator ................................................................................................................. 159
Aircraft Profile.................................................................................................................. 161
Weight & Balance ............................................................................................................ 162
Proximity Waypoints ......................................................................................................... 163
Appendix H: Display Symbols ........................................................................................... 165
VFR Symbols .................................................................................................................... 165
IFR Symbols ..................................................................................................................... 166
Airspace Symbols ............................................................................................................. 168
Appendix I: Map Datum and Location Formats ............................................................ 171
Map Datums.................................................................................................................... 171
Location Formats.............................................................................................................. 171
Appendix J: Glossary........................................................................................................... 173
Appendix K: License Agreement and Warranty ............................................................ 179
Contact Garmin................................................................................................................ 179
Software License Agreement............................................................................................. 179
Limited Warranty.............................................................................................................. 179
AOPA Airport Directory Notice .......................................................................................... 180
AC-U-KWIK LICENSE AGREEMENT.................................................................................... 181
FCC Compliance............................................................................................................... 181
Industry Canada Compliance............................................................................................ 181
Radiation Exposure Statement.......................................................................................... 182
Index...................................................................................................................................Index-1

Garmin aera 660 Pilot’s Guide
190-02017-20 Rev. A 1
Overview
Overview Navigation Flight Planning Hazard Avoidance Additional Features Appendices Index
SECTION 1 OVERVIEW
1.1 UNIT OVERVIEW
The aera 660 presents GNSS-derived analog flight instrumentation, position,
navigation, and hazard avoidance information to the pilot using a 5”display with a
capacitive touch screen.
Power Button
Unit Overview
External Antenna Connector
Power Button
USB Connector
Micro SD Card Slot
Battery Latch

Garmin aera 660 Pilot’s Guide
190-02017-20 Rev. A
2
Overview
OverviewNavigationFlight PlanningHazard AvoidanceAdditional FeaturesAppendicesIndex
1.2 GETTING STARTED
BATTERY INSTALLATION
NOTE: Refer to Appendix E for additional battery information.
CAUTION: Always keep the battery installed when the unit is on.
WARNING: The product contains a lithium-ion battery. To prevent damage,
remove the unit from the aircraft or vehicle when exiting or store it out of
direct sunlight.
Installing the battery:
1) Locate the lithium-ion battery that came in the product box.
2) Locate the metal contacts on the end of the lithium-ion battery.
3) Insert the battery so that the metal contacts on the battery line-up with the
metal contacts inside the battery compartment.
4) Insert the battery into the battery compartment, and push until it clicks into
place.
Unit Overview - Battery

Garmin aera 660 Pilot’s Guide
190-02017-20 Rev. A 3
Overview
Overview Navigation Flight Planning Hazard Avoidance Additional Features Appendices Index
CHARGING THE BATTERY
NOTE: While in Charge Mode, the unit draws a current from the aircraft. To
avoid discharging the aircraft’s battery, disconnect the external power cable
from the unit when not in use for several days.
Charge the aera for at least 4 hours before using on battery power. Charge the
battery by connecting the aviation power cable, the USB cable, an AC adapter, or use
a stand-alone battery charger (optional accessory).
Plug the unit into a 12-Volt or 24-Volt connector to charge. The unit can be used
while it is charging. Charge the unit within the following temperature range : 41° to
95°F (5° to 35°C).
1) Mount the aera 660 in the aircraft and connect the power cable to the
aircraft power outlet (cigarette lighter receptacle).
2) Route the power cable so that it does not interfere with aircraft operation.
The unit begins charging as soon as external power is applied.
USING CHARGE MODE
Applying external power to the aera automatically turns on the unit for full operation.
If the battery is present and needs to be charged, the external power source charges
the battery while the unit is in use.
If you do not want to use the unit, but you would like to charge the battery, you can
put the unit into Charge Mode. Connect the unit to an external power supply. Press
and hold the POWER Button. Instead of completely turning off, the unit now goes
into Charge Mode.
The unit will run cooler and may allow more current to be available for charging the
battery while in Charge Mode.
MOUNTING THE aera IN THE AIRCRAFT
Refer to Appendix D 'Installation & Interfacing' for information on mounting the
aera in the aircraft.

Garmin aera 660 Pilot’s Guide
190-02017-20 Rev. A
4
Overview
OverviewNavigationFlight PlanningHazard AvoidanceAdditional FeaturesAppendicesIndex
TURNING THE UNIT ON/OFF
Press the POWER Button to turn the unit on. Press and hold the POWER
Button to turn the unit off.
The first time the unit is turned on, the receiver must collect satellite data and
establish its present location. To ensure proper initialization, the aera is shipped from
the factory in AutoLocate mode, which allows the receiver to “find itself” anywhere in
the world.
During initialization, current database information is displayed. Database
information includes valid operating dates, cycle number, and database type. When
this information has been reviewed for currency (to ensure that no databases have
expired), the pilot is prompted to continue.
Touching the Press To Accept Button acknowledges this information, and the
Main Menu is displayed.
Database Initialization
GNSS RECEIVER STATUS
The receiver status displays one of the following conditions:
•Autolocate—Receiver is looking for any satellite whose almanac has been
collected, which can take up to 5 minutes
•Searching the Sky—Receiver is looking for satellites
•Acquiring Satellites—Receiver is looking for and collecting data from satellites
visible at its last known or initialized location, but has not acquired a fix