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Garmin Autoland Executes First Real-World Emergency Landing on King Air in Colorado

Garmin confirmed on Saturday, Dec. 20 that its Autoland system fully landed a Beechcraft Super King Air 200 at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport after departing Aspen/Pitkin County Airport.
A rapid loss of cabin pressurization triggered the Autoland system, and pilots donned oxygen masks while choosing to keep it engaged, Chris Townsley, CEO of Buffalo River Aviation, said.
The Autoland system broadcast periodic audio messages estimating time to landing and announced an imminent `Emergency auto-land`, while air traffic controllers cleared surrounding airspace and received emergency alerts.
Two people walked away uninjured Saturday, North Metro Fire Rescue District did not treat or transport anyone, and the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating while the National Transportation Safety Board gathers information.
Launched in 2019, Garmin Autoland has been demonstrated in controlled tests, and Greg Feith said `That really captured the aviation community over the last couple of days because it has now vetted the technology that it did work. It worked as advertised and successfully got an airplane down.

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Daily Express

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Plane's 5-word message to air traffic control as it lands itself

The aircraft's emergency self-guided system was activated for the first time ever.

9 hours ago·United Kingdom

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Geo News

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Autopilot triumph: Airplane lands itself during real-life emergency

In a historic first for aviation automation, an airplane landed itself after detecting an in-flight emergency.Garmin, the company behind Autoland System, shared that the Beechcraft Super King Air 200 made a safe landing at Rocky Mountain...

10 hours ago

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NDTV

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Mid-Air Emergency Activates 'Garmin Autoland', US Plane Lands Itself

A small airplane landed safely on its own, using a special autopilot system called Garmin Autoland, after an in-flight emergency in Colorado, US.

13 hours ago·New Delhi, India

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The Independent

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Airplane automatically lands itself after an inflight emergency

The plane landed safely at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport near Denver

17 hours ago·London, United Kingdom

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CNN

+9 Reposted by 9 other sources

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Airplane lands itself after in-flight emergency, in a first for aviation automation

An airplane has, for the first time, automatically landed itself after an in-flight emergency, according to the system’s manufacturer.

24 hours ago·Atlanta, United States

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The Daily Caller

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Plane Lands Itself Amid Pilot Emergency In World First, Firm Says

A small plane landed itself at a Colorado airport Saturday in what Garmin says was the first-ever use of its Autoland system during an actual emergency.

1 day ago·Washington, United States

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