Readback: October 2019

First, we checked with Garmin and their equipment actually decodes the Morse code identifier rather than rely on GPS and the tuned frequency to look it up in the boxs database. So far, so good. We next checked with Mark Kolber, our regs guru, and he pointed us to AIM 1-1-3.c. That paragraph talks about navaid identification in general, pointing out that merely hearing Morse code isnt enough because it could be transmitting TEST. Likewise, live voice transmissions from FSS or ATC dont indicate a valid navigation signal. The prize, though, is in the paragraphs last sentence, If your equipment automatically decodes the identifier, it is not necessary to listen to the audio identification. So, Rick, youre right. If the box decodes and displays the Morse code identifier, you can rely on that.

Key Takeaways:

• Modern avionics that automatically decode and display navaid identifiers eliminate the need to listen to Morse code, as confirmed by FAA AIM 1-1-3.c.
• There is significant concern about over-reliance on GPS for navigation due to increasing jamming and degradation, highlighting the need for a robust backup system, potentially eLoran, that may require primary-system capabilities.
• FAA regulations offer ambiguous guidance on right-of-way conflicts between aircraft on downwind and those on a 45-degree entry into a non-towered airport pattern, leading to differing expert opinions that ultimately emphasize collision avoidance.

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