In article ,
Jose wrote:

If I were a CFI, I would NEVER discourage the use of technology in the
cockpit.

There's a difference between the use of technology and the =reliance= on
it. I agree that we should all be able to =use= the available
technology. However, I see too many pilots, especially new ones, that
=rely= on it to such an extent that they could not navigage without it.


Reliance on ANY one technology is generally not good. However, pretty
soon reliance on GPS for navigation will be essentially mandated by the
market. When you're IFR in the clouds or above a layer, you have to
rely on technology for navigation, whether that's old technology or new
technology.

I use GPS as the primary means of navigation on long flights. I have
weather uplink and TFR updates every 12 minutes. No chart or other
legacy technology can come close to that capability. However, if I'm
making the breakfast or dinner run, I never rely on my GPS--it's all
pilotage, even if it's out of the local area. For long flights, I
always have charts on board (both IFR and sectionals) and VORs tuned for
backup. I am always on a flight plan when making long flights.

I think students should be encouraged to use "all available
information." That means GPS (handheld or otherwise), VOR, ADF, etc.
Use flight plans, and get flight following when on VFR cross countries.
My handheld GPS units have been more reliable and more precise than any
other radio in any of the airplanes I've flown since I started flying 10
years ago. There is nothing inherently bad about GPS, and teaching
students to shy away from it is doing them a disservice, given the fact
that GPS and other modern technologies are the future.



JKG