Originally Posted by
G-F0RC3
Hi All
I decided to purchase a GPS so that when I'm flying to other locations after qualifying I will always have a better idea of where I am, even if the weather does take a turn for the worse.
Just remember that you need to have a backup system for nav purposes. Those whom I have flown with who use GPS, use it in addition to their other normal nav techniques (Dead Reckoning / use of traditional navaids) rather than instead of them. They create a PLOG (perhaps by printing it out from Sky Demon), write the route on a paper map. Then in the air they fly their plog, noting their time at each point, but then confirm their position using the GPS.
In less than ideal weather, it certainly makes cloud dodging much easier, but I wouldn't totally rely on it. A software issue, signal issue (jamming...), battery issue etc could leave you in trouble.