The II Morrow Apollo CNX-80 (later rebranded the Garmin GNS-480) was the first integrated General Aviation GPS Navigator with WAAS capability. This radio was far ahead of its time. In fact, we believe that it was the technology in this radio, and the people who created it, which prompted Garmin to purchase UPS Aviation Technologies (UPSAT).

Instead of simply allowing waypoint-by-waypoint navigation, the CNX-80 / GNS-480 is a Flight Management System (FMS). The primary advantage is the ability to selects Victor airways as a whole, rather than enter each of the waypoints which define the airway. This greatly simplifies the creation of flight plans. Perhaps more importantly, this makes it faster and easier to change the flight plan on the fly when given changes by ATC.

The two best features of the CNX-80 / GNS-480 are the opening of thousands of runways to precision WAAS GPS approaches, and the ability to provide a WAAS position fix for an ADS-B solution.

WAAS Approach Capability - WAAS, or Wide Area Augmentation System, is a fundamental improvement to GPS accuracy. By adding a series of ground stations and geostationary satellites, WAAS GPS is typically 5 times more accurate than "regular" GPS. This means that it is now possible to fly a complete "Virtual Glideslope" approach into an airport with no local ground-based navigation aids whatsoever. An Apollo CNX-80 (Garmin GNS-480) makes the following approaches available:

LNAV (Lateral Navigation): This is a new name for non-precision GPS approaches as we have known them. Like all non-precision approaches, this has a minimum descent altitude (MDA), based on obstructions and terrain.

LNAV/VNAV (Lateral Navigation / Vertical Navigation): This class of approach provides Glideslope vertical guidance with a decision altitude (DA) typically 350 feet AGL.

LPV (Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance): This is the most precise of the WAAS GPS approaches, the GPS equivalent of a Cat I ILS approach. It also offers Glideslope vertical guidance, but the DA is lower, typically from 200-250 feet AGL.

ADS-B - The WAAS GPS position fix identified by the CNX-80 / GNS-480 is the foundation for an ADS-B solution. You may install an ADS-B solution with an internal WAAS GPS, or use the position identified by the CNX-80 / GNS-480. (Your ADS-B solution would transmit this position for use by the ADS-B system.)

The Apollo CNX-80 / Garmin GNS-480 may be used with any of these Indicators (the Garmin units are the official choices):