Ron A. wrote:
Everyone seems to agree that that FAR 43 requires a maintenance log entry
when updating the database. And everyone agrees that it is silly.

What date do you put down for the maintenance ( I know the obvious answer -
the date you did it)? If I update multiple planes this weekend with the
database that will be effective in the middle of the week (Mar 16th) because
it is more convenient to go to the airport on a weekend, is it smart to put
I updated the databases before they are effective if they have an IFR flight
before the 16th?

GNS480 makes it easy. You can update the database before the effective date,
both the current and future databases are stored on the card, and the GNS480
automatically switches to the new database on the effective date. I haven't been
around and the precise moment when it switches to know whether the switching
disrupts a flight in progress.


I understand you can legally fly an approach with an expired database if the
approach has not been modified since the last database revision. My

That's true only if your Approved Flight Manual Supplement permits it. Believe
it or not, they're not all the same. If you have a UPS/Garmin-AT, the
boilerplate FMS they shipped you, and you probably sent off to OK City without
modifying it, and OK City approved without modifying it, allows you to fly an
approach if you verify it is unchanged.

OTOH if you have a Garmin(not-AT) the boilerplate that they shipped to you, and
you probably sent off to OK City withoutodifying it, and OK City approved
without modifying it, requires you to have a current data base.

Not sure what happens with other brands.

Also not sure if you could have modified the boilerplate and had it approved.

understanding is you couldn't verify if the approach had changed until you
wait close enough to the cycle data to get the paper charts and see if they
changed anything. If they changed it on the future cycle and it affected
your approach before the effective date (you can download 10 days ahead,
before you receive the paper) could FSDO bring enforcement?