Paris Air Show: Deutsche Aircraft builds on partnership with Garmin
June 16, 2025
On the eve of this year’s air show, Deutsche Aircraft officially announced the integration of Garmin’s latest-generation G5000 Prime Flight Deck into the D328eco turboprop.
The announcement comes hot on the heels of the unveiling of Deutsche Aircraft’s D328eco test aircraft, TAC 1, at the end of May. The next-generation 40-seater regional turboprop is slated to enter service in Q4 2027.
Advancement in cockpit technology
The integration of the Garmin’s G5000 Prime marks an advancement in cockpit technology and crew interface for the D328eco. It combines proven avionics expertise with a sustainable aircraft platform.
The announcement also builds on the existing partnership between the avionics leader and the German aircraft manufacturer, as Deutsche Aircraft works towards the D328 eco’s entry into service in 2026.
The G5000 Prime is a highly customised version of Garmin’s third-generation integrated flight deck system, tailored specifically for Part 25 transport aircraft such as the D328eco and Part 121 operations.
It introduces a fully touchscreen interface with multi-touch capability, dual core processors, and edge-to-edge glass displays designed for enhanced crew coordination, reduced pilot workload and improved situational awareness. Notably the system allows for dynamic crew interaction – enabling up to 10 simultaneous touch points from both pilots. It also includes advanced features such as weather radar, synthetic vision and integrated system diagnostics.
Crucial next step
Speaking at the announcement on Sunday 15 June, Deutsche Aircraft managing director, Nico Neumann praised the collaboration.
“This partnership is a crucial next step with Garmin and underlines our focus on innovation. With Garmin, we are taking a major step forward in making the D328eco more flexible and intuitive for pilots and crew. Feedback from test pilots in our simulator has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly in how user-friendly and powerful the interface is.
Neumann likened using the G5000 Prime to the ease of using an iPhone as he noted: “The weather awareness and system integration are incredible. Pilots love the simplicity and situational clarity it brings.”
Key capabilities include:
- NEXTGEN compliance with CPDLC, FANS 1/A+, ACARS and Performance-Based Navigation (PBN)
- Touchscreen interface with intelligent, context-sensitive displays
- Runway Occupancy Awareness (ROA) and other advanced safety-enhancing tools
- Fleet connectivity and integrated health monitoring for predictive maintenance
- Proven reliability from Garmin’s legacy of delivering over 30,000 flight decks globally
Creighton Scarpone, Garmin’s aviation business development manager, joined Neumann at the briefing. Adding his enthusiasm for the collaboration, he said:
“We are honoured to bring the G5000 Prime to the D328eco platform. This is more than just avionics – it’s a future-proof solution designed for modern regional operations. The trust placed in us by Deutsche Aircraft is something we deeply value.”
