Originally Posted by
Sciolistes
Well, I suppose that is the nub of the argument.
Specifically, how do you see GPS being examined? As part of the enroute/diversion? Any specific techniques? Would the examiner just switch it off mid flight? Crucially I would want to see somebody handle an unexpected enroute diversion. The problem I perceive with skills tests is that mine was rather benign in that the diversion was usually clear of CAS as the crow flies, I would think the examiner would be looking for the student to show they are aware of the proximity of CAS and how they use the unit to establish that information.
Naturally, I would interested in what the examiner would do if the student called off the test because the database was out of date or the unit was faulty!
When I navigate an aeroplane under normal conditions, as I'm sure is true for you, I integrate DR, radio/GPS nav, and good old fashioned looking out of the window.
When something goes wrong - I lose sight of the surface, the GPS reception goes, the VOR goes US.... I will work with what's left.
I'd venture that an appropriate skills test would probably include normal navigation with (nominally) all of what's on board the aircraft. But, let's say a possible test scenario would be a simulated electrical failure forcing a diversion without any navaids.
No doubt if you put a group of examiners together they'd come up with something much better (or at-least much more detailed) than that, but it's a starting point.
W.R.T. an up to date database - we all carry up to date charts, so have access to known up to date data - if the GPS database is out of date, so what, chart takes precendence. I'd expect any pilot, especially a test subject, to know the validity of whatever's on board.
G