Situational Awareness versus Cheating?
EFB usage is a game changer for IFR pilots. However, aviation rules make it clear that the magenta line is secondary if it is not the primary IFR instrument.
While flying the ILS Runway 10 approach into DuPage County Airport, I can plainly see how far from the final approach centerline that the crosswind is pushing me. This makes it easy to know that I do not need to make aggressive heading changes. Looking at the localizer needle, I am unsure if I need a3 degree adjustment to the changing wind, or a 1 degree shift. On paper, I am using the needles on my panel-mounted “steam” gauge. In reality, I get a very good sense of what is happening from my Electronic Flight Bag equipment, which is displaying a moving map on my I-pad mini.
Big brother uses ADSB to follow the identity of all aircraft near O’Hare. As pilots, why shouldn’t we take advantage of the advanced data at our fingertips?
Purists cry that computers are draining today’s flyers of traditional stick and rudder skills. However, traffic and navigation information are a greater focus of aviators than ever before. It is true that GPS information could vanish from our screens at any time. How would the newest generation of pilots react to an emergency shutdown of the satellite feed?
As long as we aviate, navigate and then communicate (in that order), I think we will be fine. Confidence is key to our general aviation future.
Yes, I am pissed off that Garmin is obsoleting our trusty Garmin 430 equipment in the Piper. It reminds me of Chevrolet in the 1970s. We are replacing the 430 with a GNC 355 and a Garmin 215 at a cost of $18,000. That is a lot of money.
Aviation is an expensive pursuit.