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AIRCRAFT TYPE / SPECIAL EQUIPMENT

T

todehnal

Well Known Member
I have some confusion about filling in block 3 of an FAA flight plan; (Aircraft Type / Special Equipment) I thought it was RV12/G, but I am not so sure about the equipment suffix now. I'm fully Dynon equipped with a Skyview touch, Mode S transponder, and the ADS-B box. I'm not sure that the "G" states it well. Any thoughts??

Tom
 
I had the same confusion and was advised to simply use /U.

I'll be interested to see what others recommend. (I have dual G3X touch/ADS-B, ES transponder)
 
You file /G if you have an IFR certified GPS navigator installed in your aircraft. Neither the DYNON SkyView or Garmin G3X systems are IFR certified navigators so you use /U. Now, if you had a Garmin 430 or equivalent certified IFR GPS navigation equipment then you would file /G.

:cool:
 
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GalinHdz said:
You file /G if you have an IFR certified GPS navigator installed in your aircraft. Neither the DYNON SkyView or Garmin G3X systems are IFR certified navigators so you use /U. Now, if you had a Garmin 430 or equivalent certified IFR GPS navigation equipment then you would file /G.

:cool:
Click to expand...

Hey Galin, you may well be correct, but I cannot find "IFR Certified" in the FAA documentation on the use of /G.

This is an excerpt of the equipment code suffix usage: Note that it says "capabilites", not IFR certified.
___________________________________________

/G Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), including GPS or WAAS, with enroute and terminal capability.
___________________________________________

The above is from the (AFS-410, 7/31/05). If you can offer some documentation to support your statement, it would be greatly appreciated.

Tom
 
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Hey Galin, Here is another example that is from Foreflight:


What equipment codes should I select? For example, is a G1000 a /P or a /S?

You can select multiple options for Radio Communication, Navigation and Approach aids, on the Aircraft page. In the Radio Communication section, choose:

S if your aircraft has a VHF comm radio AND a VOR AND an ILS receiver installed (all operational.)

G if your aircraft has a GPS receiver that is installed and operational.

If your aircraft has a G1000, you could select both S and G. Same goes for a GTN750, KSN770, GNS430, etc?; each would allow you to select S and G. However a handheld or portable GPS does not allow you to select ?G.?
 
When I file I use U and on first ATC contact tell the controller I can proceed direct with a VFR GPS. They usually accept that.
 
todehnal said:
Hey Galin, Here is another example that is from Foreflight:

What equipment codes should I select? For example, is a G1000 a /P or a /S?

You can select multiple options for Radio Communication, Navigation and Approach aids, on the Aircraft page. In the Radio Communication section, choose:

S if your aircraft has a VHF comm radio AND a VOR AND an ILS receiver installed (all operational.)

G if your aircraft has a GPS receiver that is installed and operational.

If your aircraft has a G1000, you could select both S and G. Same goes for a GTN750, KSN770, GNS430, etc…; each would allow you to select S and G. However a handheld or portable GPS does not allow you to select “G.”
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That is correct. With the G1000, GTN750, KSN770, GNS430, etc… you can select /G, /S. Otherwise you would select /U, assuming you have a Mode C transponder.
az_gila said:
I use /U and just add "VFR GPS" and "406 hand held PLB" in the comments section.
Click to expand...
This is the best way of filing if you have a non approved GPS.
RFSchaller said:
When I file I use U and on first ATC contact tell the controller I can proceed direct with a VFR GPS. They usually accept that.
Click to expand...
And most of the times there is no problem at all with this.

:cool:
 
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todehnal said:
Hey Galin, you may well be correct, but I cannot find "IFR Certified" in the FAA documentation on the use of /G.

This is an excerpt of the equipment code suffix usage: Note that it says "capabilites", not IFR certified.
___________________________________________

/G Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), including GPS or WAAS, with enroute and terminal capability.
___________________________________________

The above is from the (AFS-410, 7/31/05). If you can offer some documentation to support your statement, it would be greatly appreciated.

Tom
Click to expand...
Good question. So to be be sure, I asked some REAL expert that I know and this is a paraphrased answer:

"You can put whatever you want for VFR, but for IFR operations, a bunch of AC's (including AC 20-138) and the AIM requires IFR certification to be considered GPS-equipped. What is the point of filing VFR /G if you can't legally fly an RNAV route?"
Ref: AIM Tables 1-1-5 and 1-1-6 on page 1-1-24.

The AIM states:
"To be approved for use in the National Airspace System, RNAV equipment must meet the appropriate system reliability, accuracy and airworthiness standards."
Ref: AIM Part 5-1-8(d)(2)(note) on page 5-1-15.

:cool:
 
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/G Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), including GPS or WAAS, with enroute and terminal capability.
Click to expand...

Since non-certified equipment cannot be used for primary navigation (IFR or VFR), you do not have a GPS with "enroute or terminal capability". In VFR, technically your eyeballs are your primary nav.

Foreflight is being a bit Certified aircraft centric. Note they list that you should have a GPS installed to use /G. Well, in a certified plane you can't install a non-certified GPS, so this is really saying the same thing.

Thus, /U is appropriate.

As a note internationally, without a certified GPS you also don't have ADS-B, so your SSR code is just S.
 
It looks like I am free to use /G as long as I am not filing an IFR flight plan. I like using it because that lets the controller know that have "direct to" navigation capabilities. The rule stated that all I need is an installed, and functioning GPS to do so. I cannot come up with any negatives..........Tom
 
todehnal said:
It looks like I am free to use /G as long as I am not filing an IFR flight plan. I like using it because that lets the controller know that have "direct to" navigation capabilities. The rule stated that all I need is an installed, and functioning GPS to do so. I cannot come up with any negatives..........Tom
Click to expand...

The point is that you do not have 'direct to' nav capability. Non certified gps is not authorized as a primary nav. Why cause trouble for yourself? Do not claim anything you don't have.
 
And when flying under VFR rules your primary navigation system is not a piece of equipment but your eyeballs. Everything else, certified or not, is for situation awareness.

:cool:
 
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What is this "VFR flight plan" of which you speak?

Seriously, in a thousand hours of GA flying I have never filed one. Used flight following a lot. Filed IFR about a half of that total time after I got my ticket just to be in the system (when I was based in Houston).

Anyone else never file a VFR plan?
 
Bill_H said:
What is this "VFR flight plan" of which you speak?

Seriously, in a thousand hours of GA flying I have never filed one. Used flight following a lot. Filed IFR about a half of that total time after I got my ticket just to be in the system (when I was based in Houston).

Anyone else never file a VFR plan?
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I'm a bit surprised your cfi didn't make you file one for your solo cross countries, just for practice.
 
Bill_H said:
Seriously, in a thousand hours of GA flying I have never filed one. Used flight following a lot. Filed IFR about a half of that total time after I got my ticket just to be in the system (when I was based in Houston).
Click to expand...

Apparently you have never flown VFR in Canadian airspace, in the Washington SFRA, or used lake reporting service. All require VFR flight plans.
 
BigJohn said:
Apparently you have never flown VFR in Canadian airspace, in the Washington SFRA, or used lake reporting service. All require VFR flight plans.
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Or penetrated the coastal ADIZ VFR. (flying to the Bahamas, for instance).
 
Bill_H said:
What is this "VFR flight plan" of which you speak?

Seriously, in a thousand hours of GA flying I have never filed one. Used flight following a lot. Filed IFR about a half of that total time after I got my ticket just to be in the system (when I was based in Houston).

Anyone else never file a VFR plan?
Click to expand...

Bill, it's probably overkill, especially in a modern built airplane, but much of the area that we fly in is not covered by any radar service. In fact, many areas don't even have cell service. Thus, flight following isn't much help. It's nice to know that someone will come looking for you, should you fail to close a VFR flight plan. A flight to M93, Houston County Airport is a regular for us. It's an unattended airport, no cell service, no radar coverage, and nothing but tall trees and lots of water for miles in all directions. So, why do we go there? Just a half a block walk will get you some of the best breakfast meals, and a Sunday Brunch Buffet that is in our of this world, at least in our part of the country.

Tom
 
Bill_H said:
What is this "VFR flight plan" of which you speak?

Seriously, in a thousand hours of GA flying I have never filed one. Used flight following a lot. Filed IFR about a half of that total time after I got my ticket just to be in the system (when I was based in Houston).

Anyone else never file a VFR plan?
Click to expand...

Apparently incorrectly after reading this post, I file an VFR Flight plan with G via my ForeFlight. Open and close it on the IPad and never speak to anyone unless I am late.. Done that already.

It's just a flight plan and when filing it you have the option of VFR or IFR.
 
Going obsolete...

Well apparently after March of 2016 we will need the codes for the harmonized ICAO Flight Plan...:)

https://iacra.faa.gov/iacra/faa7233-4.pdf

The FAA agreed to an AOPA request to delay it's mandatory use 6 months from the previously announced Oct 1 deadline. The old form (and codes) will no longer be accepted
 
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