Just a random post..

Glass Cockpits & GPS Vs Traditional Paper Maps & Visual Navigation
I was just thinking about this. With the advent of glass cockpits would it signal the end of traditional paper charts and visual navigation?

Traditionally we have relied on paper maps for our navigation flights. Plotting routes and calculating distances manually. During the flight we would periodically refer to landmarks on the ground to ascertain our location and to ensure that we are on track. (I cheat here too by using nav-aids along the route. But just to be extra sure where I am)

One day while plotting my route, my brother went: "Can't you just get a GPS and enter your route information? That would be much faster". I was flying a non-GPS equipped aircraft that day. I have also since gotten possession of a portable aviation GPS.

During my PPL training, I once drifted into a restricted area. My instructor took out his handheld GPS and showed me where I was exactly and commented :"A GPS can really keep us out of trouble doesn't it?" It certainly did that day. Anyway, no excuses for not knowing I was off course that day. It was on one of my first navigation flights though.

With glass cockpits and GPS devices, we can just enter our flight plan and the computer would do all the work for us. While en-route, the GPS would tell us our exact location at all times. But would it be safe relying totally on the GPS devices? What would happen if we do not have those aids?

In my opinion, with GPS devices, we would have the tendency to rely on it totally as its sort of a "easy way out". But I would think that even with a GPS, we should not rely on it totally. Things can go wrong and we may have to fall back on our paper charts and visual navigation.

For me, I guess I would still practice my paper chart reading and navigation skills now and then. GPS is still a very good navigational aid to me. And I guess being a VFR pilot, Visual Navigation is very important as well. In conclusion, I would gladly rely on GPS as a navigational aid but I wouldn't rely on it fully if I can help it. As Murphy's Law goes: "Things can and will go wrong".

Disclaimer: This is just my views as a Low time Private Pilot License holder. You are entitled to your own views.