GPS Confusion: There’s Definitely a Myth About ‘Activating the Approach’

When learning the systems of an airplane and the nuances of its avionics, no detail is too small.

Max Trescott

Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

In today’s glass cockpit world, knowing everything you can about your avionics is as important as knowing how to fly the airplane. [Courtesy: Max Trescott]

Key Takeaways:

Many pilots mistakenly believe they must "activate the approach" on a GPS navigator, but this step is often unnecessary and can be dangerous.
Using the "ACTIVATE APPROACH" function commands the GPS to draw a direct course to the Initial Approach Fix (IAF), potentially causing a dangerous 180-degree turn if the aircraft is already past the IAF.
This misunderstanding of GPS avionics can lead to critical automation surprises and flight path deviations, highlighting the crucial need for pilots to fully comprehend their systems to ensure safety.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Does that APR, or approach mode key, on your autopilot somehow activate a GPS receiver so it can fly an approach? The answer is no, it doesn’t. And if you’re confused about that, you’re not alone.

And is there something in a GPS receiver that must be “activated” at some point before one can fly an approach? Again, the answer is no. You can fly any instrument approach, either via pilot navigation or vectors and never have to “activate the approach.”