IFR GPS: Good, Bad Or Just Ugly?

Any instrument-rated pilot who "grew up" before the mid-1990s probably still shakes their head at the way GPS navigation has revolutionized the way we fly IFR. If, Rip van Winkle-like, that same pilot awoke today after a 20-year snooze, he or she would find many different responsibilities and procedures have resulted. The same is true for someone whos been flying IFR all along but is just now making the upgrade to an IFR-certified GPS. What different rules, techniques and pilot responsibilities do you need to know? How has the workload changed, and are those changes for the better? While no one, including me, would seriously advocate going back to the "old ways" of flying IFR, we also must acknowledge that with the additional capabilities and accuracies of GPS come new and different ways of getting from Point A to Point B, along with skills, techniques and responsibilities for which we might not be trained or prepared.

Key Takeaways:

• GPS has fundamentally transformed IFR flying, introducing new responsibilities and procedures across all flight phases, from pre-taxi setup to missed approaches.
• While GPS offers advantages like simplified approaches and enhanced ground awareness, it also brings new challenges such as increased heads-down time on the ground and specific considerations for obstacle clearance during departure.
• Pilots must thoroughly understand the nuances of GPS operations, including different approach minimums (especially with WAAS) and the added manual steps required for missed approach procedures.
• Safe and effective GPS IFR navigation requires dedicated training, comprehensive study of regulations, and frequent practice to master the diverse capabilities and operational differences of modern avionics.

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