To fly in an area where loss of situational awareness can cause
evacuation of the White House (or worse), not using every navigational
tool at our disposal is potentially foolhardy.

Oh, Jay, that's just silly.

If there's GPS in the airplane, sure, turn it on and use it. But if your
rental does -not- have a GPS, then electing not to fly in the DC area
because of this would indicate to me a lack of confidence in one's flying
skills that requires more training, whether to build the skills, or to
build the confidence.

I agree 100%. But are you willing to bet that the casual weekend pilot has
the navigational savvy to ded reckon his way around the ADIZ?

I don't. I flew in the ADIZ a few weeks ago, and there aren't very many
identifiable landmarks (until, of course, you see the Washington Monument,
by which time it's too late!) to use, especially in the evening haze. I was
damned glad to have that big ol' color map to follow.

Could I have done it with just a sectional? Sure! Hell, from Frederick, I
could have just set a course and a stop watch, and probably flown straight
to Dulles International without ever looking inside the plane. Unless, of
course, I had to deviate for weather (there was plenty in the area), or was
vectored by ATC. Suddenly my ded reckoning skills might have been taxed
beyond my abilities.

GPS makes that sort of thing a complete non-event, and costs less than a
tank of gas.

Again, if you're going to bet the farm on flying inside of an ADIZ, I think
you're foolish to leave GPS on the ground before you go.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"