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" in their GPS navigator to fly an instrument approach, often due to confusion between "LOAD" and "ACTIVATE" options.
The "Activate Approach" function primarily commands the GPS to draw a direct line from the aircraft's current position to the Initial Approach Fix (IAF).
Activating an approach when already established on it (e.g., past the IAF) can dangerously command a 180-degree turn back to the IAF, leading to automation surprises and flight path deviations.
Thorough understanding of avionics and automation nuances, even seemingly small details, is critical for pilot safety and preventing accidents in modern glass cockpit aircraft.

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.”