GPS database currency
#1
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Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: BE50C (A), BE95 (A), C172S (B)
Posts: 349
GPS database currency
The way I understand it: to use a GPS for IFR approaches, you MUST have a current database installed. You may not commence a GPS approach with an out of date database.
You may use an expired GPS database for ENROUTE IFR operations, provided that you verify the GPS position with other onboard navigation means.
Is this right?
You may use an expired GPS database for ENROUTE IFR operations, provided that you verify the GPS position with other onboard navigation means.
Is this right?
#3
The way I understand it: to use a GPS for IFR approaches, you MUST have a current database installed. You may not commence a GPS approach with an out of date database.
You may use an expired GPS database for ENROUTE IFR operations, provided that you verify the GPS position with other onboard navigation means.
Is this right?
You may use an expired GPS database for ENROUTE IFR operations, provided that you verify the GPS position with other onboard navigation means.
Is this right?
#4
Gets Weekends Off
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Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: BE50C (A), BE95 (A), C172S (B)
Posts: 349
#5
The only GPS which can be legally used as your primary navigation source for IFR operations must:
1) have a current database.
2) be permanently installed with Mx paperwork (vice handheld/dashtop).
3) FAA approved for IFR use.
However, for any VFR or IFR ops it is legal (and prudent) to use any and all means of navigation for backup and situational awareness...this includes a non-certified or non-current GPS. The catch is that you must use other nav means for legally required navigation performance (ie IFR), and must use the non-GPS nav as your primary nav system(s).
The GPS-only approach presents a special problem here...since it probably has GPS-only waypoints, you cannot use any other nav system as primary, so you cannot do GPS approaches. An exception would be a GPS/RNAV aproach if you have an FMS with DME/DME capability and the specified RNP...this you could do with the FMS and no GPS (I have done these while working for an airline which was too cheap to buy GPS).
If you are doing flight training, you can do VFR practice approaches with an expired database, just be wary about accepting "direct to" routing from ATC to a GPS-only waypoint. Even VFR, accepting such routing would imply that you have certified and current GPS or RNAV equipment on board.
1) have a current database.
2) be permanently installed with Mx paperwork (vice handheld/dashtop).
3) FAA approved for IFR use.
However, for any VFR or IFR ops it is legal (and prudent) to use any and all means of navigation for backup and situational awareness...this includes a non-certified or non-current GPS. The catch is that you must use other nav means for legally required navigation performance (ie IFR), and must use the non-GPS nav as your primary nav system(s).
The GPS-only approach presents a special problem here...since it probably has GPS-only waypoints, you cannot use any other nav system as primary, so you cannot do GPS approaches. An exception would be a GPS/RNAV aproach if you have an FMS with DME/DME capability and the specified RNP...this you could do with the FMS and no GPS (I have done these while working for an airline which was too cheap to buy GPS).
If you are doing flight training, you can do VFR practice approaches with an expired database, just be wary about accepting "direct to" routing from ATC to a GPS-only waypoint. Even VFR, accepting such routing would imply that you have certified and current GPS or RNAV equipment on board.
Last edited by rickair7777; 08-04-2008 at 09:55 AM.
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: BE50C (A), BE95 (A), C172S (B)
Posts: 349
However, for any VFR or IFR ops it is legal (and prudent) to use any and all means of navigation for backup and situational awareness...this includes a non-certified or non-current GPS. The catch is that you must use other nav means for legally required navigation performance (ie IFR), and must use the non-GPS nav as your primary nav system(s).
The GPS-only approach presents a special problem here...since it probably has GPS-only waypoints, you cannot use any other nav system as primary, so you cannot do GPS approaches. An exception would be a GPS/RNAV aproach if you have an FMS with DME/DME capability and the specified RNP...this you could do with the FMS and no GPS (I have done these while working for an airline which was too cheap to buy GPS).
The GPS-only approach presents a special problem here...since it probably has GPS-only waypoints, you cannot use any other nav system as primary, so you cannot do GPS approaches. An exception would be a GPS/RNAV aproach if you have an FMS with DME/DME capability and the specified RNP...this you could do with the FMS and no GPS (I have done these while working for an airline which was too cheap to buy GPS).
Granted that in an emergency, there's a perfectly good neighboring airport with an ILS, but for ordinary operations, that's not where my car (or the FBO) is.
#8
For all practical purposes, the AIRAC from a few months ago will be fine in your GPS, but you're still not legal. How expensive is it to keep the database up to date for a year or so? I've always wondered what the cost would be. How do places like flight schools handle this cost, do they just order 1 card per month, and swap it between planes for checkrides?
#9
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Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: BE50C (A), BE95 (A), C172S (B)
Posts: 349
For all practical purposes, the AIRAC from a few months ago will be fine in your GPS, but you're still not legal. How expensive is it to keep the database up to date for a year or so? I've always wondered what the cost would be. How do places like flight schools handle this cost, do they just order 1 card per month, and swap it between planes for checkrides?
Besides: if you buy an instrument equipped airplane and don't maintain it as such, you're asking for trouble, and not necessarily just of the legal kind.
I'm not a fan of this practice, in case it wasn't abundantly clear. ;)
The management knows, and is putting a little pressure on the owners to get their acts together and maintain the databases. It's an annoyance 90% of the time, but that 10% of the time that you need the approach, you're hosed.