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Old December 1st 08, 08:33 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Bob Whelan[_3_]
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Default (USA) FAA airport database in Google Earth (KML) files

Martin Gregorie wrote:
On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 11:16:39 -0800, Tuno wrote:

I've heard rumors about paper things called "sectionals" that pilots had
to unfold and read in the cockpit.

In the UK its a requirement that you must have our equivalent of a
sectional in the glider during an XC flight, even if you don't look at it
because you're navigating by GPS or with a moving map system. Does the
same apply in the US?

While I am not an aviation lawyer, have never played one on TV and don't
claim to even know any, the only USA/FAA-inspired "map gotcha" of which
I'm aware is of the 'generic need' to not bust any airspace restrictions
(e.g. [moving or stationary] temporary flight restriction,
outright/unmoving restricted airspace, flavors of controlled airspace,
etc.). How a pilot accomplishes this is up to the pilot.

Whether (in the case of being busted) being able to point to (the
misread/unused) sectional in your cockpit will lessen the egregiousness
of busting restricted airspace is another question entirely, of course...

YMMV,
Bob W.