"Marco Leon" mmleon(at)yahoo.com wrote in message
...

Question: Are folks with IFR Approach-certified GPS boxes supposed to file
/G or /R?

Before you answer consider that the AIM (and every other publication I
could
find) define /G suffixes for Enroute and Terminal and it does not mention
"Approach." I've been filing /G with a Garmin GNS430 installation and I
initially scoffed at the notion when a pilot friend said I should be
filing
/R. When he asked if I ever noticed that I've never been assigned a GPS or
RNAV approach when filing /G, I really couldn't remember if I have. Can
anyone else out there confirm being assigned a GPS approach when filing
/G?

The other thing that's throwing a wrench into my logic is that the
Preferred
Routes database on the FAA's website stipulates that some off-airways
routes
can only be filed/cleared when filing "/E, /F, /G ONLY." I'm reluctant to
file the /R because I'd like to get cleared for one of these routes going
to
Bangor, ME this weekend.


/G and /R are both for advanced RNAV with transponder and Mode C encoder.
/G is for GPS with en route and terminal capability. /R is for aircraft
that meet the prescribed Required Navigational Performance for the route or
area concerned. If your aircraft met /R standards I'm pretty sure you'd be
aware of it. /G was formerly used for GPS with en route, terminal, and
approach capability but the approach distinction was dropped a few years
ago. File /G.