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SouthPAN SBAS Compatibility

Vulpis Caelus

The SouthPAN GNSS augmentation service (SBAS) covering Australia and NZ is currently planned to be certified for safety-of-life applications in 2028. Is there any way of knowing which models of Garmin's WAAS aviation receivers will properly support SouthPAN once it becomes available? I expect that any current models would work just fine, but I haven't been able to find any definitive information on the Garmin website.
If some sort of enablement is required, would it also be available on Garmin's legacy products, eg. 400W/500W series or GNS480/CX80?
Would standalone position sources used for ADS-B, eg. GPS20A or GTX345 need a firmware update?

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    I asked this question of Garmin in Oct 2025 and specifically about the GTX-345 transponder.

    ONE: Garmin answer about GTX-345
    The GTX-345 is sufficiently accurate that there is no need to add SBAS and it cannot do multi constellation.

    Garmin email - 09 Oct 2025:

    Good Morning Steven,

     Thank you for the reply.

     The SBAS Capability in Garmin GPS Receivers are only used for approaches. The current GPS Accuracy for the GPS Receiver used in the GTX 335/345 units meets the requirements of DO-260B outside of the SBAS Service Volume and no software updates are required when the SouthPan System has achieved Safety of Life Certification.

     The GPS Receiver in the GTX-345 only utilizes the USA GPS System for the position calculations.

     Please let us know if you have any further questions.

     Best Regards,

    Thinus Nel

    Senior Aviation Field Service Engineer

    Garmin APAC - Aviation Product Support

    Phone: AU and NZ: +61 2 9679 3434, China: +86.28.85171113 Ext. 6806

    For 24-hour access to support articles and videos, visit the Aviation Support Center.

    Garmin email - 10 Oct 2025:

    Subject: RE: SouthPan commissioning
    HI Steven,

     Our engineers have advised that even without SBAS, the transponders provided appropriate position accuracy for ADSB-OUT operation. It is unlikely that any additional development will be done to include SouthPan. As for Galileo, our devices do not utilise this constellation of SBAS.

     Please let me know if you have any further questions.

     Thank you and best regards,

     From: Steven Perreau <[email protected]>
    Sent: Thursday, 9 October 2025 7:08 AM
    To: Avionics - Asia <[email protected]>
    Subject: RE: SouthPan commissioning

     Thinking more about SouthPAN.

     Our aircraft, ZK-RTE a Piper Arrow is fitted with a Garmin GTX-345 transponder with the internal GPS providing ADS-B in and out.

     Garmin GTX-345 with internal GPS

    1. Will this also require a software update ~2028 to enable SBAS for SouthPAN for greater accuracy and more reliability?
    2. Can the GTX-345 utilise Galileo as well as GPS and operate multi-constellation?

    TWO: Garmin answer about GNSS Navigators

    All navigators will require a firmware update to enable SouthPAN, to understand that SBAS constellation ID and utilise it. Exactly which navigators will get the firmware and when has not been announced.

    Garmin email - 08 Oct 2025:

    Subject: RE: SouthPan commissioning

    Hi Steven,

     Further to our phone call earlier this morning, Iv been advised that once SouthPan is commissioned, there will need to be a software upgrade to enable the new SBAS to be recognised. More specifically, the signals are being received but, at present, they are ignored.

    We assume that after this, the current RNP etc will be flyable.

    Please let me know if you need anything else.

    Best regards,

    Tony