After decades of national policy prohibiting use of hand-held VOR and GPS on
FAA check rides, FAA Flight Standards Headquarters in Washington DC
(AFS-800) finally reversed itself and is now allowing the use of hand-held
VOR and GPS on Private, Commercial and Instrument FAA check rides.

So, if your Private Pilot applicant wants to use his new Garmin Pilot III
GPS to demonstrate radio navigation on the check ride, he may do so. Of
course, if the aircraft is equipped with a VOR receiver and CDI, he still
must demonstrate proficiency with that unit as well. While this question
was put to the FAA regarding use of the hand-held GPS in a helicopter, I
don't believe that the policy change is category/class specific. Of
course, all navigation tasks on the PTS must be evaluated and if the GPS
doesn't allow proper evaluation of any task, then the approproate nav gear
must be aboard to allow proper demonstration of that task.

And yes, the GPS may be velcro taped to the panel.

It was a difficult process to get the FAA to finally see the light that if a
hand-held GPS provides the same useful, unambigious information that a
panel-mounted unit gives, it should be allowed on the check ride. After
several policy position reversals over the last 10 months, the FAA finally
published their final policy change in the Part 61 FAQ's on the FAA's web
page. Go to http://afs600.faa.gov and download the "Part 61 FAQ's" and look
at the new, revised Q&A 170e.

I was privileged to take part in the promulgation of this change and have
suggested some methods of evaluating the Navigation Task on the practical
test, which is reflected in Q&A 572. Constructive input on this matter is
welcomed.

It is not easy to get the FAA to change policy on anything, much less
something on which they have been so opposed for so may years. To their
credit, they listened to reason and actually considered public input to
effect this change. Any comments on this change are welcomed.
Tailwinds,
Antique Examiner