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Approach Considerations

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Garmin and Jeppesen navigation databases can differ, with Garmin sometimes including localizer-only (LOC) approaches and critical stepdown fixes that Jeppesen omits, potentially affecting minimum descent altitudes (MDAs).
  • It is beneficial to load ground-based approaches into navigators for situational awareness and missed approach guidance, but pilots should also practice flying ILS approaches without navigator guidance to prepare for GPS outages.
  • Pilots must practice non-precision approaches without vertical guidance to maintain proficiency for instrument checkrides and avoid over-reliance on vertical guidance in all flight conditions.
See a mistake? Contact us.

Garmin GPS navigators can use either of two databases for en-route and terminal navigation. Both are available through Garmin; one is a Garmin product and Jeppesen provides the other. We naturally assume that the two databases are similar, and in most cases they are—but not always, as I recently learned.

Most of us consider it good practice to load ground-based approaches into our navigators. This allows better situational awareness before intercepting final and provides guidance on the missed. We still fly the final approach course using the ground-based nav.

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