IO540,
I wasn't suggesting that people go flying glued to the moving map, although I suspect it happens. I was meerly trying to point out that a properly planned flight, with rigorous inputing of waypoints into "a camping" GPS (and cross checking) is an entirely adequate means of staying away from CAS and having adequate SA (not withstanding the fact that the user must understand the system limitations).
The £100 unit I have gives me the required track and distance to my next waypoint. If those waypoints are well chosen and one sticks to the plan, then that is all that is needed.
Cactus,
Indeed a sad state of affairs. The flying school I used to work for had a system where a SFH pilot had to do 6 monthly check rides and that seemed to help and of course gave them insight to how good they were and the opportunity to relearn and practice things they wouldn't normally do.
I would be interested to know how fixed wing nav techniques differ to those of the rotary world and if rotary pilots navigate more successfully than FW. I am not trying to be arrogant here. Helicopter pilots often navigate to places where that are no distinguishing features (ie runways) so their navigation technique relies heavily on interpreting charts (during planning) and the ability to relate ground to map (when flying). Indeed it would be interesting to see if my supposition is bourne out by the infringement statistics.