Portable GPS in IFR

Portable GPS units are the Mighty Mice of the cockpit. They have enough navigation power and display enough data that you could fly a below-minimums approach in an emergency using nothing but that GPS and a gyro or two to stay upright. Many can supply frequencies or airport elevation faster than you can find it on a chart. And, for the majority of us pilots who fly on conventional gauges, they can take most of the guesswork out of IFR flying-even if you have a panel-mount GPS.

Key Takeaways:

• Portable GPS units are powerful and versatile navigation tools, offering critical data, emergency backup capabilities, and significant assistance for IFR flying.
• Optimal placement of the portable GPS within the instrument scan, such as an eye-level mount, is crucial for efficiently using features like "track" for precise course keeping and minimizing distraction from primary instruments.
• Pilots should master advanced GPS techniques, including using "track" for precise course maintenance, vertical navigation for descent planning, and leveraging map features for better intercepts and route planning.
• Portable, non-TSO'd GPS units are legally permissible for supplemental IFR navigation, including direct routing requests, provided other IFR requirements and ATC approval are met.

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