IFR Tips - Loading GPS Approaches

The approach phase is likely the busiest and most complicated, part of any instrument flight. GPS and Flight Managers definitely help, but only after being mastered. While they clearly add sophisticated assistance, the pilot has to always know what to ask for. Loading approaches into the system is a great example. The issue involves three steps: 

1. Selecting the Approach
2. Loading the Approach
3. Activating the Approach

GPS Approach Confusion

The confusion arises when pilots fail to understand the distinction between "loading" and "activating". It is compounded because most GPS units include an option labeled "Load and Activate". That does both operations at once.

Realize that your GPS is always navigating toward some point. That is the point that ATC has cleared you to, or a fix along the way. The controller isn't expecting you to go anywhere else. When an instrument approach becomes active, the next navigational fix gets changed to a fix in the approach procedure. If you divert to this new point before being cleared, the controller will likely be quite upset. And this could result in the dreaded call, "Cessna 12345, I have a phone number for you. Possible pilot deviation. Advise ready to copy."

Watch the interactive presentation below. It shows you what can go wrong, and how to prevent it.


About the Author

Headshot of Russ Still

Russ Still is the founder and chief instructor at Gold Seal. He is an ATP with CFI, CFII, and IGI instructor certificates. He is also an FAA Gold Seal instructor and 8-time Master CFI. Russ holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Florida.

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