Garmin 530 WAAS?

What does the reference:

GPS-WAAS navigators that meet FAA's WAAS regulations may be used for
sole means of navigation* for all phases of flight, including en route
through precision approach at airports

really mean. I understand the additon of precision approaches, but I think I
have been able to use my 530 as my sole means of navigation (other than
precision approach) for a year now. Is it just the approach part that is
new??
"Al G" wrote in message
news
Did Garmin finally get 'er done?
"all 75,000 Garmin GNS 400/500 series products currently in the field can
upgrade to WAAS"



From www.Garmin.com:



November 9, 2006

Garmin® Receives WAAS Certification for GNS 400W/500W series
OLATHE, Kansas/November 9, 2006/PR Newswire - Garmin International, a unit
of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), today announced the achievement of a major
aviation milestone at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)
Expo in Palm Springs, CA. The GNS 400/500 series have earned the FAA's TSO
C146a Gamma-3 certification, which enables pilots to fly Lateral-Precision
with Vertical (LPV) guidance approaches and receive GPS navigation via the
Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). The FAA also granted AML (approved
model list) STC approval allowing the 400W/500W equipment to be installed
on over 980 popular makes and models of aircraft. The GNS 400/500W series
joins the G1000 and GNS 480 in providing WAAS enabled navigation for
aircraft. Garmin currently offers more WAAS solutions than any other
avionics provider.

"This is a great day for Garmin and the aviation industry," said Gary
Kelley, Garmin's vice president of marketing. "Since the FAA commissioned
WAAS in 2003, there has been an enormous demand for WAAS certified
equipment in the marketplace. We are pleased to announce that all 75,000
Garmin GNS 400/500 series products currently in the field can upgrade to
WAAS. We expect the number of WAAS equipped aircraft to increase quickly,
and pilots will be able to operate to and from airports that would
otherwise be unavailable to them in marginal weather."

Thanks to the certification and AML STC approval, owners of Garmin's
popular GNS 400/500 series panel-mount avionics will be able to upgrade
their products to meet the FAA's WAAS standards* without a field
approval**. These upgrades include 5 Hz position updates, faster map
redraws, fully coupled and guided procedure turns and holding patterns,
and increased XM weather content. Pilots will also experience
significantly enhanced functionality because of the WAAS LPV, LNAV/VNAV,
LNAV+V, and LNAV approach capabilities.

Garmin's GNS 400W/500W series meets the FAA's highest level of
certification for WAAS navigation. The units utilize satellite-based
navaids for precise lateral and vertical approach guidance - similar to
Instrument Landing System (ILS) operations - without the need for
ground-based navaids of any kind. The Gamma-3 level of certification lets
pilots fly the FAA's new LPV approaches. The FAA has already published
over 600 LPV and 5,500 WAAS approach procedures.

The WAAS system improves the accuracy, reliability and integrity of the
GPS signal. GPS-WAAS navigators that meet FAA's WAAS regulations may be
used for sole means of navigation* for all phases of flight, including en
route through precision approach at airports. With WAAS LPV approaches,
pilots will have stabilized lateral and vertical navigation and will be
able to navigate as low as 200 feet above the runway end under instrument
flight rules.

Garmin's panel mount avionics have been installed on nearly three-fourths
of all U.S. single and twin-engine piston and turbine aircraft retrofitted
since 2000. The company strives continually to raise-the-bar in the
avionics industry, and two years ago at the 2004 AOPA Expo Garmin's GNS
480T was the first GPS navigator in the industry to earn a TSO C146a
Gamma-3 certification.

Garmin expects deliveries of the new GNS 430WT and GNS 530WT to begin in
about 30 days with upgrades beginning in January 2007. Upgrades are
available for a suggested retail price of $1,500. Pilots who do not
currently own Garmin 400/500 series equipment and are in the process of
upgrading their avionics, will be able to purchase new GNS 430W and GNS
530W units for $10,750 and $16,495, respectively. Visit www.garmin.com for
additional information or a complete list of authorized Garmin dealers.

*Due to the TSO limitation in conjunction with the AFMS limitation,
Garmin's GNS 400/500 series navigators will not be certified as a "primary
means" of GPS navigation until after customers install a new software
version. Garmin expects to issue a Service Bulletin in the first quarter
of 2007 issuing the software. The software will be updated via the
400/500W data loader card. This required software update is expected to be
available in the first quarter of 2007.

**The AML STC data is intended to provide complete FAA approved data for a
large subset of CAR3/FAR23 aircraft; however, if the aircraft does not
pre-qualify for the AML STC standards, additional means of airworthiness
approval will be required.

Notice on forward-looking statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and
its business...