PlasticPilot.net

In the beginning, we all flew VFR, looking outside the plane guided by Gods like Compass, Watch and Map. As skies are big, collisions were virtually non-existent.

Then came radio-navigation, ADFs and VORs. Pilots looked a bit less outside, flew accurately along the radio waves, and the collisions became more common.

Instead of flying everywhere, most VFR pilots flew along the same radials, flying VOR to VOR, making each beacon a risky crossing area. Some of them are so busy that I started to fly by them and no longer over them, and with a renforced “see-and-avoid”.

Now GPS is everywhere, and some VFR pilots (but I’m sure you’re not one of them) stopped to look outside, as the moving map is much more funny that boring landscape. This is particularly true if a class cockpit replaced the old steam gauges.

If the VOR accuracy was within a few hundred meters, GPS accuracy is less than typical wingspan of General Aviation aircrafts. Couple it with a good autopilot, possibly with altitude hold, and if you forget to SEE-AND-AVOID, you get a perfect collision machine.

GPS also reduces situational awareness of pilots, when they rely on it only. I’m sure you don’t, but imagine yourself flying with GPS only, no radio-navigation tuned, and all your charts nicely folded in your flight-bag, on the back-seat. What if GPS fails ?

When asked for position reports by ATC, some pilots now give answer like “45 degrees 21 minutes 12 seconds North, 7 degrees, 52 minutes, 35 seconds East”. What do you guess an air traffic controller or FIC operator can do with it ? . . . . . . NOTHING !

Nowadays GPS, autopilots and autothrottles (where available) are so good that some aircrafts crossing the Atlantic follow the tracks so accurately than the one on top can detect the one below on its radio-altimeter, and such situations can last for hours ! This is how good GPS is !

But you’re not at risk, as you certainly use your GPS in combination with good situation awareness, backed-up with a good navigation flight plan, radio navigation or good knowledge of the area, and continue to look outside when flying VFR… don’t you ?