Originally Posted by jjoe
All pilots can navigate VFR IN VMC but not everywhere all the time eg unfamiliar surroundings so they use a GPS or RadNav or ask for directions or do something else like look at a map- they don't crash or infringe everytime they fly;(some may frighten themselves, some may be blissfully unaware)There are of course people who are better at traditional map/compass NAV than others and we like them too.
jjoe, my definition of VFR nav does allow use of maps! All pilots SHOULD be able to navigate VFR in VMC everywhere all the time the ground is in view. How do you think we did it before GPS in aeroplanes with no navaids? We didn't blunder into controlled airspace or land in a field to ask the way!
Once you can visually navigate, by all means make life easier by using GPS. But you MUST have the manual backup, the basic skill, in your 'toolbag'.
In the world of roads it's expected some will slavishly follow a GPS for 200 miles in the wrong direction on a journey that should take half an hour, or follow the GPS instructions to turn right, but to make the right turn onto a railway line (both these are not that uncommon). In the air we expect better, and the ability to apply gross error checks by ensuring the GPS info agrees with our visual nav deductions is essential.