Looking out of the window while VFR?

[VOD80]

What I learned from a GPS thread...

So, after this long thread, what have I learned about GPS in a VFR application (this is my take on it, and not a copy paste of anyone’s particular point of view).

Here, “could” represents something where the stated benefit is not guaranteed and where the opposite result might occur under certain circumstances. I think one thing would cover the three points below - workload reduction.

• It’s a tool that could aid in VFR navigation (here “aid” in the sense of back-up to non-electronic means)

• It’s a tool that could aid in maintaining situational awareness in the airspace that we use

• It’s a tool that could broaden the operational envelop for VFR pilots (reduced visibility, snow covered terrain, featureless terrain…) – but what happens if GPS is lost while in that situation? A little bit like sending babies swimming with armbands. Great while they stay on but what happens if they come off? If the pilot’s not good enough to go without GPS…

Does VFR GPS give all of this for free?

Some interesting sites (American, mainly IFR, but which illustrate some of the issues which I see surrounding GPS):

http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=16064 similar kind of discussion to the one here, but with the added spice of someone inventing home made “ILS” approaches by creating waypoints 500ft underground

http://aviationmentor.*************/2006/12/flying-in-alphabet-soup.html an interesting discussion on GPS approaches which highlights how something can seem simple but for which workload can increase enormously, especially because of the user interface

http://www.caa.govt.nz/publicinfo/GPS_speech.htm The Kiwi point of view on VFR GPS, from around 10 years ago but raises quite interesting points in a very pragmatic manner.

I personally think VFR GPS doesn’t give anything for free. I don’t think that anyone could just get a GPS and go. As many have stated, there needs to be formal training on its use, its performance and its limitations. Another PPL ground exam? My take on the negatives:

• There are performance issues (complex user interfaces, database currency…)

• There are reliability issues (have you looked at the electrical power supply system on a GA aircraft, for example?)

• There could be, in my opinion, an insidious tendency to delegate responsibility to the machine, for the pilots to find themselves out of the loop. (Cue Iggy Pop, The Passenger… Oh the passenger, he rides and he rides…)

Fade to black.