If I remember right though the PTS says for something to the effect
that if the aircraft is equipped with an IFR approved GPS that one of
the approaches needs to be a GPS approach. If you do not have the
current database then you can do another non-gps approach and it is a
dead issue.


On Thu, 07 Apr 2005 20:50:35 -0400, Roy Smith wrote:

I just noticed an interesting problem with the Instrument Rating PTS. It
says:

Aircraft and Equipment Required for the Practical Test
[...] GPS equipment must [...] contain the current database.

The problem is that not all GPS units require that the database be current.
The CNX-80 AFM Supplement says:

2.3 DATABASE
The CNX80 Database Card P/N 138-0329-010 Rev. -- (or later FAA approved
version) must be installed.
a) IFR enroute and terminal navigation is prohibited unless the pilot
verifies the currency of the database or verifies each selected waypoint
for accuracy by reference to current approved data.
b) Instrument approaches using the CNX80 are prohibited unlessCNX80
approach data is verified by the pilot or crew to be current. Instrument
approaches must be accomplished in accordance with approved instrument
approach procedures that are loaded from the CNX80 database.

So, it's perfectly legal for me to fly with an expired database, as long as
I verify that the data is correct (presumably by comparison to a current
chart).