Violating Airspace with GPS

Gene,

I guess I still wasn't clear on what I was trying to say. A GPS is
great for knowing where you are on a pre-planned course. A GPS moving
map isn't good for much of anything.


Well, I couldn't agree less. GPS moving maps are a WONDERFUL tool for
situational awareness. In fact, beyond the AI, it doesn't get much
better. If you think wasting your time interpreting arcane needles is
better, it may be time to tune down the machismo ;-)

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

On Mon, 03 Nov 2003 17:01:01 +0100, Thomas Borchert
wrote:

Well, I couldn't agree less. GPS moving maps are a WONDERFUL tool for
situational awareness.


Did you mean to say positional awareness? Positional awareness is
only a small part of situational awareness.

Did you mean to say positional awareness? Positional awareness is
only a small part of situational awareness.


Well, if what you say is correct, I guess I was correct to say
"situational awareness". IMHO it gives you more than positional
awareness.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

On Mon, 03 Nov 2003 17:38:07 +0100, Thomas Borchert
wrote in Message-Id:
:

IMHO it [GPS] gives you more than positional awareness.

Aside from ground speed, and three dimensional position (and time of
day), what other information does GPS provide?

Although the aircraft's position is displayed relative to geographical
features (roads, rivers, towns, ...), most GPS databases do not
contain terrain data. GPS doesn't tell you anything about the
powerplant(s), ATC, traffic, fuel, in flight and destination weather,
pilot health, ... which are all part of situational awareness.

Here's one definition of situational awareness:

http://www.refresher.com/!pilot.html
Situational awareness is an ongoing process of the continuous
assessment and accurate interpretation of reality. Effective
environmental scanning when combined with the awareness of the
performance capability of the aircraft, and the self awareness of
personal capabilities and skill of the pilot result in competency
and precision in the execution of maneuvers, and flight safety.


More he
http://aviation-safety.net/events/FCV.shtml
http://www.acespilotshop.com/pilot-s...-awareness.htm
http://www.hpti.net/aviation/situational.html

Larry,

Aside from ground speed, and three dimensional position (and time of
day), what other information does GPS provide?


Wind speed and direction, for example.

GPS doesn't tell you anything about the
powerplant(s), ATC, traffic, fuel, in flight and destination weather,
pilot health,

Larry, I never said it would. Not with one word. I know all the stuff
you provided for my education.

Let's stop the nit-picking and get back to the original topic: The
statement was that, while GPS is nice, moving maps don't do much for a
pilot. I disagree. Strongly.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Thomas Borchert wrote

Wind speed and direction, for example.

How??? By itself, a GPS cannot do this. Only as a part of a
Flight Management System (or similiar NAV System) with an
input of TAS and HDG can wind speed and direction be computed.
A GPS will only provide TRK (course made good) and GS of the
six item wind triangle.... HDG, TAS, TRK, GS, Wind DIR, VEL.

Bob Moore

On Tue, 04 Nov 2003 16:00:48 +0100, Thomas Borchert
wrote in Message-Id:
:

Larry,

Aside from ground speed, and three dimensional position (and time of
day), what other information does GPS provide?


Wind speed and direction, for example.

I wasn't aware of that. What GPS has the capability to display wind
speed and direction?

GPS doesn't tell you anything about the
powerplant(s), ATC, traffic, fuel, in flight and destination weather,
pilot health,

Larry, I never said it would. Not with one word.

The phrase you used, situational awareness, implies those things.

I know all the stuff you provided for my education.

Then please display your knowledge of that "stuff" by using the
correct terms.

Let's stop the nit-picking and get back to the original topic: The
statement was that, while GPS is nice, moving maps don't do much for a
pilot. I disagree. Strongly.

Your disagreement is apparent. Unfortunately, in this message thread,
you fail to provide any examples of evidence that supports your
contention.

You contend that moving-map GPS is second only to the AI in its
usefulness, but you don't say how it's useful. Your opinion is always
welcome, of course. But the logic you used to arrive at that opinion
would be significantly more useful information, IMHO.

Larry,

Ok, you had your fun jerking my chain, so let's let it go. If you fail
to see the usefulness of a moving map display, I can't help you. Just
don't use one!

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
...
| On Tue, 04 Nov 2003 16:00:48 +0100, Thomas Borchert
| wrote in Message-Id:
| :
|
| Larry,
|
| Aside from ground speed, and three dimensional position (and time of
| day), what other information does GPS provide?
|
|
| Wind speed and direction, for example.
|
| I wasn't aware of that. What GPS has the capability to display wind
| speed and direction?

Most of them. In fact, I have not seen an aviation GPS which does not have
this capability. However, the feature is invariably so buried in a bunch of
sub-menus that it is almost useless.

Didn't realize that it took a lot of machismo to determine if a needle
was pointing left or right. But I've been wrong before.
--
Gene Seibel
Hangar 131 - http://pad39a.com/gene/plane.html
Because I fly, I envy no one.



Gene,

I guess I still wasn't clear on what I was trying to say. A GPS is
great for knowing where you are on a pre-planned course. A GPS moving
map isn't good for much of anything.


Well, I couldn't agree less. GPS moving maps are a WONDERFUL tool for
situational awareness. In fact, beyond the AI, it doesn't get much
better. If you think wasting your time interpreting arcane needles is
better, it may be time to tune down the machismo ;-)