Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six in flight
Piper Aircraft  /  PA-32 Series

Certified Autopilot for the Piper PA-32 Series

The Trio Pro Pilot gives Cherokee Six, Lance, and Saratoga owners a practical FAA-approved two-axis autopilot path for hauling family and passengers on real cross-country trips — without forcing every owner into the highest-cost avionics stack.

Call Jeff — 540-309-6427 View Pricing & Order ↓
2-AxisGPS tracking + altitude hold
STCFAA-approved, SA04230CH
14V/28VBoth electrical systems supported
Any A&PNo factory-authorized shop required
Before You Decide

Has your PA-32 become the airplane your whole family — or your whole operation — depends on?

The Piper PA-32 series — Cherokee Six, PA-32-300, Saratoga, and the Lance and Turbo Lance variants — is the airplane owners buy when four seats stop being enough. It hauls family, gear, horses' worth of luggage, or a full load of passengers on real trips. For many owners it isn't a weekend airplane; it's the one that has to work, every time, with people and cargo that matter riding in back.

That's exactly why the autopilot decision carries more weight in a PA-32 than in a lighter single. A pilot flying six seats loaded near gross on a long leg is managing more workload than the same pilot solo in a two-seater. A family hauling gear to the farm or the lake is thinking about fatigue on the return leg. An owner running the airplane for business is thinking about dispatch reliability and predictable trip times.

Most PA-32 owners don't start with "which autopilot." They start with "what does this airplane need to keep doing its job well."

Recently purchased a PA-32 and building out a modernization plan
Regularly flying loaded, long cross-country legs with family or passengers
Working toward or maintaining instrument currency in a heavier, higher-workload airplane
Comparing autopilot, GPS, EFIS, and full panel modernization paths

Those are mission questions as much as equipment questions. An owner hauling a full cabin wants predictable, hands-off cruise so they can manage fuel, weather, and passengers instead of fighting trim. An instrument-rated owner wants reduced workload on approach setup when the airplane is heavier and slower to respond. A business owner wants the airplane to be a reliable tool, not a variable.

Has your PA-32 moved from occasional trips into a real family or business travel role?
When you're loaded near gross with passengers or cargo, does hand-flying long legs add fatigue you'd rather not carry into the approach?
If you're planning a panel upgrade, have you decided which piece of equipment actually changes how the airplane flies?
When you're flying with your family in back, would reducing your workload change how you manage an unexpected weather deviation?
Do you fly enough GPS approaches to value coupled vertical guidance, or do you mainly need reliable altitude and heading hold on cruise legs?

These questions matter because the autopilot is not valuable simply because it has features. It becomes valuable when it supports the way you actually load and fly the airplane.

The PA-32 modernization question A PA-32 owner often has several valid upgrade paths — Garmin G5s, uAvionix AV-30s, an Aspen display, a modern GPS navigator, or a full panel redesign. The autopilot decision should fit the aircraft, the panel, the mission, and the budget, not be treated as an isolated purchase.
"The question I usually ask is simple: if this were my airplane and I could only make one major upgrade right now, which upgrade would produce the greatest improvement in capability, workload reduction, safety, and practical utility?" — Jeff Johnson  |  Instrument-rated pilot  |  N1595R, Trio Pro Pilot installed

For many PA-32 owners, the autopilot becomes the upgrade that ties the airplane together. A modern GPS can tell you where to go. Electronic flight instruments can show you what's happening. The autopilot reduces the physical workload of flying a heavier, loaded airplane while you manage navigation, weather, communication, and the people in the back seats.

Why this page has two paths If you already know the Trio Pro Pilot is the right fit for your PA-32, the product and ordering information is below. If you're still deciding between an autopilot, GPS navigator, or EFIS upgrade, call first — a short conversation can usually clarify which upgrade should come first.
Technical Reference

What the Installation Actually Involves

These are the facts that matter before a conversation with an installer. No invented numbers — just what is documented and verified.

Aircraft Coverage
PA-32 Cherokee Six through Turbo Lance
Cherokee Six, PA-32-300, PA-32S-300 Saratoga, PA-32R-300 Lance, PA-32RT-300 Turbo Lance
STC
SA04230CH
Held by The STC Group LLC — same STC that covers the PA-24 and PA-28 families
System Type
Two-axis (roll + pitch)
GPS track, altitude hold, VS climb/descent
Electrical
14V and 28V supported
Configured to your specific model at order
Kit Coverage
One kit, full PA-32 lineup
No separate wing-type kit needed, unlike the PA-28 series
GPS Approach
Coupled, with vertical guidance
When paired with a WAAS GPS via ARINC 429. Does not couple to ILS.
EFIS Required?
No
Works with Garmin, Avidyne, Aspen, uAvionix, Dynon, or legacy panels
Who Can Install
Any A&P/IA
No factory-authorized installer required
Estimated Labor
40–45 hours
Trio alone; more with added equipment. Ask your shop for a quote.
Typical Installed Cost
$11,000–$14,000
Unit + STC kit from $6,640, plus labor. Compares to $32,000–$40,000+ for a GFC 500 clean-sheet install per Lafayette Avionics pricing.
Kit Contents
Complete installation kit
Control head, servos, PA-32-specific factory-built wiring harness, STC documentation, AFMS
Lead Time
Ships in 3 to 5 weeks
Direct from manufacturer

Equipment pricing and full ordering information at the product page. Questions about your specific configuration: call Jeff at 540-309-6427.

Common Questions

What PA-32 Owners Ask Before Buying

The Trio Pro Pilot is approved for the full PA-32 lineup — Cherokee Six, PA-32-300, PA-32S-300 Saratoga, PA-32R-300 Lance, and PA-32RT-300 Turbo Lance — under STC SA04230CH. One kit covers the whole PA-32 family, with no separate wing-type variant to select. Call Jeff with your tail number and he'll confirm your exact configuration.
The Garmin GFC 500 is available for the PA-32 and is a strong product. It requires Garmin electronic flight instruments, a Garmin GPS navigator for approach coupling, and a Garmin-authorized installer. Installed cost typically runs $32,000 to $40,000 or more depending on configuration — and the PA-32 airframe adder for the GFC 500 runs higher than on the PA-28, starting around $3,000 — per current pricing from Lafayette Avionics. The Trio Pro Pilot provides a certified two-axis autopilot path, including coupled GPS approaches with vertical guidance, at a fraction of that cost, and can be installed by any A&P/IA.
No. The Trio Pro Pilot couples to GPS approaches with vertical guidance when paired with a WAAS GPS via ARINC 429, but it does not couple to ILS approaches. If you fly ILS approaches to minimums regularly, the Garmin GFC 500 is worth evaluating — Jeff will tell you honestly if that's a better fit for your mission.
Yes. An autopilot does not replace hand-flying skill, but it reduces physical workload on long, loaded legs — letting you focus on fuel management, weather, and the people in the airplane instead of fighting trim for hours at a time.
Yes. The Trio Pro Pilot interfaces with Garmin, Avidyne, Aspen, uAvionix, and Dynon, and runs on original vacuum instruments without requiring an EFIS.
Support comes from three directions: Jeff directly by phone or email, The STC Group LLC as the STC holder and technical support source, and a 700+ member Trio Pro Pilot owner community. Documentation, wiring schematics, and the AML are in the Education & Support Center.
Next Steps

Two ways to move forward

Some PA-32 owners are ready to order. Others are still deciding where the autopilot fits in a larger modernization plan. Both paths are straightforward.

Still planning

Talk through your aircraft first

Jeff can review your model, current panel, mission, and budget before making a recommendation. The consultation is free and there is no obligation.

Call Jeff — 540-309-6427
Ready to order

View pricing and order the kit

Complete product information, pricing, and ordering for the PA-32 series installation kit, including everything that ships with the system.

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Jeff@TrioAutopilots.com  •  Exclusive authorized source for the Trio Pro Pilot  •  Certified since 2017  •  Other Piper models