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

"vincent p. norris" wrote in message
...
Anyone who thinks using a GPS correctly in the context of
aerial navigation is like turning on an electric light needs some dual on
the
basics of what constitutes proper flight instruction .

I have a pretty good idea of what constitutes proper flight
instruction, Dud; mine was courtesy of the United States Navy. I
understand it's generally considered a fairly rigorous program.

I have no problem with Navair, and the training you have received or not
received is not at issue here.What I'm addressing is your statement that
asserts something as fact that I don't believe is fact based on my direct
exposure to the environment in which you have chosen to assert yourself;
that being the training environment from the instructor's side of the coin.
The simple truth is that you have stated the following;

" if you have been flying long, you know that a new pilot with a GPS will
quickly become dependent and will never develop pilotage skills."

......and I take exception to that. It's simply not true enough to be
presented as a glittering generalization like this.
In my experience as an instructor over time, the exact opposite would be
indicated unless the pilot in question was trained improperly. You are
attempting to convey with this statement that a new pilot with a GPS is
likely to become dependent on that GPS. My contention is that any properly
trained pilot will use a GPS simply as one more available tool to be used in
conjuction with other navigational skills, pilotage being one of these
skills.

I take particular notice of the following comment from the same
source;

It's common knowledge that many recently trained pilots have not
learned to navigate well. It's often been discussed here."

Whether this comment is true or false in its entirety isn't my main
concern.

That is the essential notion being discussed here, Dud. You're
changing the subject. And if it's not your main concern, why do you
take particular notice of it?

I'm not changing the subject. The subject I addressed in my initial post was
simply an opposition comment to your direct statement. My comment was
direct, in context, and to the point.


Any pilot properly trained will have been taught basic piloting skills
and know how to use them.

You're begging the question, saying a properly trained pilot has been
properly trained. Duh!

Quite to the contrary, it is YOUR statement that a new pilot who has a GPS
in his/her navigational equation will become dependent on that GPS to the
point of not developing normal navigational skills that begs the question;
"has this pilot been properly trained?"

I'm begging nothing. I'm telling you that any properly trained pilot will
have been trained to use all the navigational skills especially the basics
and the backups to the basics, and will have been taught to develop the
habit patterns necessary to use those skills.
For you to pre-suppose that the insertion of a GPS into such a pilot's
navigational environment would cause that pilot to neglect all that he/she
has been trained to do is in my opinion patently absurd on it's face.

Why would a brand-new private pilot who was "properly trained," and
has confidence in his ability to navigate by DR and Pilotage, think
that the first thing he needs is a GPS?
A "properly trained pilot" thinking the "first thing he needs is a GPS" is
the oxymoron of the day.
The fact is that NO properly trained pilot will NEED a GPS. The GPS, as I
have sated for the properly trained pilot, will be simply an additional
navigational tool to be used in conjection with whatever backup is necessary
for that GPS to produce a safe flight under the conditions present
concerning that flight.

There is absolutely no basis in fact that I have seen anyway, that
pre-supposes a new pilot will use a GPS at the expense of normal
backup navigation skills.

You seem to have it backwards. It's the GPS that is supposed to be
the "backup."

Actually, since I've been saying from the onset of this discussion that the
GPS is in fact just one more navigational tool, it appears that it might be
you who has things backwards :-)

Any properly trained pilot...

Now if we're talking improperly trained pilots........that's another
story!

We are. Some young pilots I've talked with in recent years cannot get
from here to there without using VORs. If they depend VORs to navigate
in VMC, you expect me to believe they won't depend on GPS, which is
even easier?

I have no doubt that there are pilots out here who rely on one basic system
for navigation and that doing this is bad juju, be it VOR, ADF, of GPS for
that matter. No one is arguing that issue. These pilots exist as we all
know. I am arguing your statement that this type of pilot constitutes a
majority
as you indicate with your use of the phrase "a new pilot with a GPS will
quickly become dependent"
You are taking what I consider the exception and projecting that exception
as the rule, and in my opinion, you are wrong. Hence the opening discourse
on what constitutes proper training.

I strongly suspect some young CFIs are not very good at pilotage
either.

I wouldn't argue this. Notice you correctly used the word "some".

Don't forget, Dud, that 50% of all CFIs are below average. ((:-))

I'm sorry you have such a low opinion of flight instructors.

Dudley Henriques