Database Management
Legacy G1000: All databases (except NavData) are stored and accessed on two SD cards in the bottom G1000 PFD and MFD slots; NavData is loaded into top slots for storage in internal memory, usually from a 3rd SD card.
G1000 NXi: All active databases reside in the G1000 NXi's very large internal memory. Consequently to update any of the NXi databases, you use your PC/Mac to download all databases to just a single 32 GB SD card, and insert it into the bottom MFD slot. When you boot the system, current databases are read from the card into internal memory of both PFD and MFD via a synchronization process, but don't take effect until you boot the system a 2nd time. At that point you can remove the SD card completely because it's not used by the system.
(At some point I might substitute a $1500 FlightStream 510 card for the 32 GB SD card, thus wirelessly synching the MFD and PFD internal memory databases with new databases on an iPad, but this requires Garmin Pilot on the iPad; I'm still using Foreflight.)
New Functionality
In general, NXi provides a superset of previous G1000 functionality; the "buttonology" is pretty much the same.
- VFR Charts (shown below), IFR low charts, and IFR high charts are now included with the Garmin OnePak subscription bundle; these can be displayed on the MFD, overlaid with magenta course, traffic, etc. (just like Foreflight or Garmin Pilot). This makes use of an iPad less necessary. I took this shot from the ground with the plane sitting in the hangar; note that red Xs (since the engines aren't running) are now yellow Xs on the G1000 NXi.
I found out the hard way that if you load Canadian charts right after the US charts, it wipes out the US charts; apparently you can only load one country's charts at a time. I guess this makes sense since different countries have different native chart formats, and thus they wouldn't blend very well at the border.
- Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP) is included with Diamond NXi implementations. This also permits flying coupled missed approaches (i.e., the autopilot doesn't go into suspend mode at the MAP). Note that ESP could be implemented (requires a software unlock card) with legacy G1000s, but requires GSM 86 (instead of GSM 85) servo mounts -- generally included in 2013+ DA40/DA42/DA62 aircraft.
- The PFD inset map can now be placed inside the circular HSI.
- When you tune a radio frequency, the name of the tower, CTAF airport, approach, ATIS, ARTCC, etc. is shown (which helps keep you from calling the wrong frequency)
- A new Vertical Situation Display on the bottom 1/3 of the MFD shows winds aloft and terrain below as before, but now also includes your instrument approach in profile view.
- When you load a flight plan, it's now very clearly separated into Departure Airport (with runway!), Enroute waypoints, and Arrival Airport (with runway).
- When flight plans are displayed on the MFD, the instrument approach plan view includes waypoint/fix crossing altitudes on the map.
- And lots of other small improvements I can't remember.
For the DA42 and DA62 twins:
- A full-page MFD "Engine" page for the first time (just like the DA40) shows all the engine gauges, systems, TKS fluid levels, fuel tanks, etc. on a single page instead of only on the left side of the MFD.
- Fuel gauges for the Auxiliary Tanks! For the first time in Diamond twins, you can know how much fuel is in the Aux tanks located in the rear of the engine nacelles.
What's Missing
By browsing the G1000 NXi manuals for other aircraft (e.g., Cessnas, Beechcraft, Cirrus, Piper), you can see what Diamond chose to leave out of its NXi software:
- No "Visual Approach" loading (new feature that synthesizes 3 degree visual approaches even for runways that have no published instrument approaches)
- No "Surface Watch" that provides your taxiway or runway position, how many feet are left during takeoff or landing, if you're landing on the wrong runway, etc.
- No electronic Checklists for the DA62 (this softkey is present but grayed out). I tried loading a chklist.ace file for the DA42 NG on the SD card, but it wasn't recognized by the G1000 NXi.
