Meet Garmin's ultimate portable MFD: the Garmin GPSMAP 696, an all-in-one navigator designed exclusively for aviation. Featuring a large screen, detailed electronic charts and real-time weather, the GPSMap 696 is your own personal avionics system.

Garmin GPSMAP 696 Review

See the Big Picture

Garmin GPSMAP 696 has a bright 7-inch diagonal high-definition sunlight-readable display makes detailed mapping easy to see day or night — you can even view an entire approach plate on the large-format display. For easy operation, the bezel around the screen includes soft keys and a joystick control. And with a fast 5 Hz GPS update rate, the GPSMap 696 renders graphics and presents flight data smoothly and continuously.

No Chart? No Problem.

With the addition of Garmin FliteCharts® and IFR map mode, the GPSMAP 696 provides key functions of a Class 1/Class 2 electronic flight bag (EFB), reducing the use of paper charts in the cockpit. With FliteCharts, you can quickly find and view all U.S. NACO departure procedures (DP), standard terminal arrival routes (STARs), approach charts and airport diagrams. If the current approach is known, GPSMAP 696 automatically selects the correct chart based on the flight plan. When in IFR map mode, the 696 can display victor airways, jet routes, minimum enroute altitude and leg distance, much like found on paper enroute charts.

Add Weather and Radio

Garmin GPSMap 696 includes a GXM 40 smart antenna, which gives you access to high-resolution weather and audio entertainment right in the cockpit (XM subscription required). XM WX™ Satellite Weather includes next generation radar (NEXRAD), aviation routine weather reports (METARs), terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAFs), temporary flight restrictions (TFRs), lightning, winds aloft and more for the U.S. and Canada. In addition, the GPS Map 696 can receive PIREPs, turbulence forecast and icing forecast information. The weather data can be laid directly over the unit’s navigation and topographic map databases. With 170+ channels of digital music, news and programming through your aircraft headset or cabin audio system, you’ll stay informed and entertained.

Enhance Situational Awareness

The Garmin GPS Map 696 features a high-resolution terrain page showing hazards relative to your altitude and a vertical profile of terrain along your route of flight. It comes with a built-in Jeppesen database, and an Americas, Atlantic or Pacific terrain database. It also includes an obstacles database for the U.S. or Europe. Using this information, the GPS Map 696 displays your flight route over contour terrain mapping. With information from the terrain and obstacles databases, the GPS Map 696 monitors your current position in relation to surrounding terrain to provide alerts. To help keep pilots aware of special airspace activity, over 683 parachute drop zones are detailed in the Americas navigation database. You can even customize your own minimum clearance levels to receive terrain cautions. The GPS Map 696 also comes with a realistic “view from space” satellite imagery basemap.

Like other portable Garmin devices, Garmin GPSMap 696 includes the following enhanced aviation databases:

Garmin SafeTaxi

Provides detailed taxiway diagrams and position information for over 850 U.S. airports. Preloaded on the unit, this information helps you navigate unfamiliar airports with confidence and shows your aircraft’s exact position on the field with the GPSMap 696.

AOPA Airport Directory

Offers detailed information for over 5,300 U.S. airports, along with the names and phone numbers of thousands of FBOs. Easily look up taxi services, plan an overnight, and choose fuel stops, plus find ground transportation, lodging, restaurants, local attractions and more.

Private Airports and Heliports

Provides data on private airports and heliports throughout U.S. and Europe, and materially expands your list of navigation and emergency "nearest" options.

Receive Altitude-Sensitive Alerts

When in the air, Garmin’s new Smart Airspace™ feature makes it easier than ever to identify what airspace lies ahead. Smart Airspace automatically highlights airspace close to your current altitude and de-emphasizes airspace away from the current altitude, which gives you increased situational awareness.

Expand Your Portable

The GPSMAP 696 includes an SD card slot for extra memory and updates. Keep track of the databases on your GPSMAP 696 through www.fly.garmin.com, their online manager that helps you update, manage and purchase the latest aviation data for your Garmin device, all in one place.

Master the Basics with eLearning

To gain quick familiarity with all the features and operation of your GPSMAP 696, Garmin offers a fully interactive, computer-based training program on CD-ROM. It’s called the eLearning Program, and it’s a self-paced, Windows® compatible application developed in conjunction with Pegasus Interactive to help new users take advantage of all the capabilities their GPS unit offers. Available from authorized Garmin dealers or directly from Garmin.com, the eLearning program for your GPSMAP 696 lets you select specific topics of interest, and then learn by doing. A scenario-based guided simulation system helps you practice the selected task or process by following step-by-step, on-screen prompts. You’ll see a simulated multi-media demonstration; then repeat what you’ve learned, hands-on, to reinforce and assess your skills. Getting started with Garmin eLearning is the fast, fun way to master your new portable GPS.