I passed the checkride, now need a good GPS and passenger headset

vincent p. norris wrote:
The statement that using a GPS is a "skill" is almost humorous. Using
a GPS demands only slightly more skill than turning on an electric
light.


Exuse me for cutting in but I have to utter a hearty "Bull****!".

I was out of flying for 15 years after flying every day for various part 135
outfits. Let me tell you, today's panel looks different from what I was used
to. I climbed into a retrofitted C-172 for my BFR last year when I started
flying again and found that although I had several hundred hours in C-172s that
I couldn't figure out the panel. I could fly the airplane just fine... but I
couldn't figure out how to change frequencies, etc. The primary radio in that
airplane happened to be a Garmin 430.

I ended up taking dual *just* on the Garmin; then buying a manual and installing
a GPS sim on my computer. I learned how to do a few things with it but don't
fly enough any more to retain the lesser used functions. I probably only use
10% of what that GPS is capable of doing.

Don't tell me that operating the GPS doesn't require skills.

I say that while still remembering how to navigate with just a map and the
compass and I can still fly a very decent ILS or ADF approach. Those require
skills too... just different ones.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

VE