Originally Posted by
Fl1ingfrog
There is no difference in navigation between dead reckoning: distance/time and heading balancing drift. whether operating with a GPS or not the principles remain the same: the earths form remains the same. When you are taught dead reckoning you are taught navigation whether using GPS later or not. The only real difference is that the GPS provides instantaneous off track errors, position plus continuous ETA revisions. The GPS also offers a neat moving map. GPS screen graphics offer a much easier and more practical medium than a large and very cumbersome folded paper map; to read requires technique.
By learning traditional heading and time and map fixes to reassess errors you are operating as your GPS software works and receiving a trained fall back following a GPS failure which are not uncommon. Remember also; rubbish in = rubbish out, so you need comprehensive navigation training to properly understand this.
The trouble is almost nobody teaches a wholistic approach to using GPS navigators and the associated moving maps. I once was asked to fly with a new pilot to an airport that was well known for having an excellent restaurant and he would buy me lunch. On the way back there is a bunch of fast button pushes on the Garmin 430 and the pilot announces he is ready. I ask what the track and distance to home is. He says 039 for 126 miles, so I ask what the track and distance was to get here, UMMM 331 and 79 miles..........OHH.