  We have detected Cherenkov light from air showers with Geiger-mode APDs
(G-APDs). G-APDs are novel semiconductor photon-detectors, which offer several
advantages compared to conventional photomultiplier tubes in the field of
ground-based gamma-ray astronomy. In a field test with the MAGIC telescope we
have tested the efficiency of a G-APD / light catcher setup to detect Cherenkov
light from air showers. We estimate a detection efficiency, which is 60% higher
than the efficiency of a MAGIC camera pixel. Ambient temperature dark count
rates of the tested G-APDs are below the rates of the night sky light
background. According to these recent tests G-APDs promise a major progress in
ground-based gamma-ray astronomy.
