I really disagree with relying on GPS to learn how to get yourself so you know where you are... it's just such bad practice... What do you do if your instruments fail? Or your GPS packs in? Learn the other methods... it's better to have them under your belt rather than relying on a piece of equipment that might break on you. Also, not all planes have GPS.. so if you find yourself wanting to rent an airplane are you going to say to them, "oh it doesn't have GPS, i might get lost...
Dave
I agree with you that it is important to have all your skills available to you as you never know when you might need those skills.
We have become so used to fancy GPS displays that modern pilots can get very lazy many not even bothering with any sort of flight planning because of GPS.
I can remember flying a Citation From Nice to Gatwick in winter at night. This one was a late citation 2 with FMC and Glass displays. We had all the route loaded. It was so easy just to put in the airway entry and departure points and see a clear display of all the waypoints stream out on the glass displays together with the sids and stars.
All of a sudden all the screens went black and it was a case of out with the charts and direct to VOR requests. The thought of flying one of the numerous Gatwick arrivals conventionally was a real brain tester.
Luckely we got the system up and running before starting down into Gatwick.
It is important to have all your traditional navigation skills well honed and then add the luxury of GPS because you never know when you might need them.
Pace