On Fri, 25 Jul 2003 20:09:31 -0400, Roy Smith wrote:

Neal wrote:
And folks here were just recently lamenting the end-of-life for the
GPS-90 handheld database updates... I'm kinda glad now that I didn't
buy that GX-55 panel-mount last autumn.

I've got a Garmin 90. I havn't updated the database since the day I got
it (7 years ago?). I carry it for emergency navigation. The airports
havn't moved since then, which is mostly what I'm interested in.
There's the odd navaid or intersection that's changed, but for the most
part, this stuff just doesn't change that quickly.

For primary IFR navigation, sure you need an up to date database.
Especially for approaches. But for emergency backup? Hardly.

If you use one for even just VFR, you really need current airport
identifiers. In the past year and a half, there's been about a half
dozen or more airport identifier changes and/or airports that have
closed completely, within a hundred miles of my home base.

In an emergency in unfamiliar territory when you hit that NRST button
and it steers you towards that airport that shows to be in gliding
range, and you turn that direction and establish your glide only to
find a brand new neighborhood full of freshly built houses instead of
a runway...