Hopefully it’s been drilled into you from before you flew your first approach that you absolutely must make sure you’re using current charts and data. This is because instrument procedures are continually being added, removed, and modified to account for changes to air traffic operational needs, the obstacle environment, navigational capabilities, and sometimes even end-user considerations. To do otherwise could lead to an unexpected meeting with an immovable object.
This is consistent with 14 CFR Part 91.103, which states that we must “before beginning a flight, become familiar with all available information concerning that flight.” While it’s a clear and sensible goal, how are we supposed to accomplish that in practice? Let’s say you’ve taken your Turbo Bugsmasher to an out-of-the-way location and your database has expired before your return trip, or you’re returning in the middle of the night and your database expires in flight. Knowing how to correctly verify your data currency can help you complete the mission.
