Peter
I agree here with GEP! For a start not everyone has flat screen state of the art equiptment showing terrain bla bla bla!
Some use handhelds trying to get a good signal others do use old syle GPS units.
I rode shotgun to another pilot flying IFR. There had been problems with the GPS switching itself off and then back on again.
All appeared to be working and we were routing to a point 90 degrees to our destination. The distance to the point and the track miles to the destination were not adding up although the PIC believed what it was saying.
I punched a direct to destination and he still didnt click.
The distance was the same the heading was the same to both points.
The unit died a week later and was replaced with an exchange.
Pilots are getting lazy and complacent and in many ways loosing their skills.
I flew the latest Cirrus 22 which had everything going. Somehow I stopped flying the aircraft and had the strong impression of being behind a home MSFS.
I even got the impression that if I crashed a notice on the screen would come up saying you have crashed flight reset
My whole focus was on the televison screen in fron of me not the real world outside.
Technology is not the answer to everything and certainly not to adding to pilot skills and I stress the word SKILLS!
Does GPS make you situationally aware absolutely! But are you the pilot more situationally aware? NO and there is a subtle difference.
GPS gives an artificial situation awareness not an inner one!
Pace