Is Expired Data Usable?

There is no question that pilots planning to fly IFR should always keep a current database in their approved GPS. Its not difficult and it demonstrates a professional attitude toward instrument flight and aircraft maintenance. In the perfect black and white world of flight schools and checkrides, this would be standard. However, in the real world of dumb luck and Murphys Law, this topic gets a little murky. …

Key Takeaways:

• Pilots should maintain current GPS databases for IFR flight, but FAA guidance allows using an approved GPS with an expired database for an IFR approach if the procedure has not been amended since the database's expiration.
• Verifying procedural amendments requires comparing the "procedure amendment date" or "amendment number" on current approach charts against the GPS database's expiration, as chart revision dates alone are not sufficient.
• Despite the possibility of verification, using an expired database carries risks due to potential subtle procedural changes (e.g., relocated fixes) that may not be obvious, making regular database updates the safest and most professional practice.

Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->

See a mistake? Contact us.