Garmin has introduced AXIS, a new line of integrated flight displays aimed squarely at the general aviation retrofit market, giving owners of older piston aircraft a path to modern glass-cockpit capability. The company announced the system on July 8, 2026.
What sets AXIS apart is how much it folds into a single unit. Rather than stacking separate boxes for navigation, communication and audio, AXIS combines the display with IFR GPS, a NAV/COMM radio and audio panel functions in one integrated package. The result, Garmin says, frees up panel space, cuts wiring complexity and installation time, and can even shave a little weight off the aircraft.
The system is offered in three display formats: an 11.6-inch landscape display, an 8-inch portrait display and an 8-inch landscape display. That flexibility is meant to suit a wide variety of instrument panels, from tight two-seat trainers to roomier four- and six-seat singles and twins.
Garmin is targeting a broad slice of the fleet. On the certified side, AXIS is designed to reach piston single- and twin-engine aircraft through an approved model list supplemental type certificate (AML STC) covering hundreds of models. On the experimental and light-sport side, the system is positioned to take advantage of the FAA's MOSAIC framework, which has expanded what light aircraft and their builders can do.
Pricing spans a wide range depending on capability. Entry-level configurations for experimental aircraft start around $8,000, while large, certified, IFR-equipped installations reach up to $23,400. For many owners, the cost will be weighed against maintaining ageing electromechanical instruments.
Availability is staggered. The 11.6-inch AXIS displays have already received FAA and EASA Technical Standard Order (TSO) authorisation and are scheduled to become available in July 2026, with the 8-inch displays expected in early 2027. Airframe manufacturer CubCrafters has already said it plans to offer AXIS across its aircraft lineup.
For the general aviation community, the launch continues a long trend of trickle-down avionics, bringing the kind of integrated, intuitive cockpit tools once limited to new factory aircraft within reach of the existing fleet, often the single biggest upgrade an owner can make to an older airplane.
Sources: AeroTime, AVweb. Featured image: AI-generated by AviationShop. By Daniel Okafor.
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