hmmm, about those silly things like compass and clock.
Royal Nepalese 75 just lost the lot out of KTM - that's Kathmandu. Bit lumpy out there. Just about an hour for it to get down safely. The two previous 75's it happened to didn't make it. Lost all on board. Technology is a tool and only a tool relies on it.
GPS - sole or primary nav - be honest. You know and I know that folks are using it as sole. They haven't drawn a line on a map since they discovered the combining of the words credit card, Duracell and Garmin.
It's habitual, it's engrained and it's thoroughly supported by the industry because the mark up is higher than a half mill.
The training experiences suffered by the Phoenix and others are and have always been available in the UK and elsewhere. I first set foot in a club 28 years ago and asked the gods to teach me to fly. Ended up having to threaten to call the CAA before they'd get the POH for a PA28-140 out of the safe. I didn't agree with them that it actually was a 4 seater when fueled up and wanted to do a W&B. Tragic thing was I had my licence by then and no one else had ever had the gumption to demand the same during the prior 8 years Cherokees had flown there.
They continued to fly that way for many years after.
I may fly full glass with a head up display these days but I'm still very active in light aviation. Nothing suprises me amongst these seemingly bizarre experiences. For all apparently mortally wounded by by the Welshman's turn of phrase sup once more from his words. Wind yourselves up into a tizzy yet again and once calmed down re-read. As with others posting here there's some very good advice within.
The uncomfortable fact for many of you is that the Weslshman won't lie down and be shafted. He and anyone he advises will not be walked over by lazy, bored, shoddy practices in GA. If you don't think they exist you are very, very wrong.
Regards
Rob
PS If you do fly with all that dreadful nav and comms gear in your aeroplane here's a pointer to an invaluable resource you will be utterly daft to ignore.
A two page avionics trouble shooting guide which is both excellent and free. Comes as a pdf download for you to print out and laminate if you've got any sense at all.
Go to
http://www.aea.net/MemberDirectory/
Click on 'Pilot Resources in the left margin and on the page that comes up you select the third item down catchily titled:
Pilot's Avionics Troubleshooting Guide
If you feel first stages of each procedure seem simplistic you've obviously never spoken to an avionics engineer about their experiences or flown with me
