Originally Posted by
Sam Rutherford
1. Charts don't break down, but they are also out of date the moment they are printed.
2. Who needs to know how to read a chart if you have sufficient redundancy to never have to rely on one? We're no longer taught how to use a sextant, and they dropped Morse as a requirement as I was half way through my commercials. I suggest that drawing lines on maps could, actually should, be dropped - in favour of instruction in how to use the various (and amazing) electronic solutions that now exist.
The reality is that there are thousands of pilots presently being trained, and studying, a system of navigation that they will never, ever actually use the moment they get their certificate/licence.
Actually Sam, given your background and experience, you are really surprising me with your ridiculously simplistic take on this! Either you are winding us up, or I will have to downgrade my opinion of you.
Basic compass stopwatch and ruler navigation is really important to learn, even if you will never use it in its most basic form. Why? Because you must absolutely understand those fundamentals. Whatever form of nav you use.
Most of us don't fly with sufficient redundancy in our electronic nav systems to never need to fall back on simply knowing where we are and looking on a chart to see where to go next.
The pro GPS lobby seem to assume that it's black and white, either use full GPS with magenta line. Or use only compass and stop watch.
The reality isn't like that. I teach folk to plan on paper, and be confident they could find their way on paper if the electronic stuff went tits up, but to have a GPS running to confirm where they are (NB no magenta line)