TomVal
Well Known Member
Just a few reflections on reliance on GPS navigation: Last week I helped my friend, Jim, fly his newly painted Baron from Eloy, AZ (south of PHX) back to Charleston, SC. Heading eastbound out of El Paso on our IFR filed GPS route, we lost GPS signal (not unusual in that area due to military activities). Reported the loss of signal and was cleared direct to Salt Flats VOR. Our routing after that was about a 300 nm GPS direct leg to Waco, TX. I told Jim that we should most likely get the signal back about 100 miles east of Salt Flats and we did. It was nice to have the VOR capability (while it lasts).
On day two of our travel, for most of the route, both i-pads went to no-data from Waco to Charleston. Jim is with AT&T and I’m with Verizon.
Of course having center available for course guidance is comforting, assuming you are on frequency and high enough to communicate with them. Having a GPS signal is anything but reliable. With all the GPS only panels going into planes…keep those dead reckoning skills current!
On day two of our travel, for most of the route, both i-pads went to no-data from Waco to Charleston. Jim is with AT&T and I’m with Verizon.
Of course having center available for course guidance is comforting, assuming you are on frequency and high enough to communicate with them. Having a GPS signal is anything but reliable. With all the GPS only panels going into planes…keep those dead reckoning skills current!