Thoughts on iPad for VFR Flight...
 

So I'm renting 152's from a fairly large international flight school to build time. One of the policies there is that I have to have to use pilotage (lakes, cities,etc.) for my cross countries, in spite of me having a iPad with a external GPS.

Personally, I find this to be a hassle because IF the iPad did fail, I would still have a paper sectional for backup. I just don't see the point in wasting time using a plotter and calculating MH for even a short 20nm flight...not to mention I would be on FF and could ask ATC for a radar vector if it came down to that.

I just want to see y'alls view on this.

Pilotage is flying off the sectional using lakes, cities, etc to figure out where you are on the map. As far as my understanding of the term, you're fine navigating map to ground without having measured courses. That being said, makes sense if they are going to have a blanket policy for all cross countries (short and long) to make sure renters demonstrate they know where they're going and how much gas they're going to burn etc. Gotta think that flight schools make their rules for the lowest common denominator in renters and not the experienced pilot.

Reminds me of the time an F-15 pilot ran a 152 out of gas.

In general (directed at everybody) if you have a problem with navigating the "old way" if someone asks you to please get out of aviation now.

Assuming you have at least a PPL, this seems a bit strange as a blanket policy. Typically as a student you should learn and be versed in Pilotage (Landmarks) and Dead Reckoning skills (Time/Speed/Distance) navigation. Most VFR X countries merge these methods (ETA to the landmark, Etc.) Was there something that prompted this, such as an instructor noticing an overreliance on the GPS? Additionally, What if... FF dropped you or you had a communications or even total electrical failure. All these and more will eventually happen, I pretty much guarantee it.

^^^THIS... If your all about your GPS then fine, but I wanna fly with people that I know has all the knowledge of the backup to the backup because thats truly why they say "A good pilot is always learning" and if you didn't learn that then I'm not so sure what you did... Accident Chain

If you are a VFR-only pilot, use the windows (that's why you learned to fly, isn't it? The view?) and a watch, along with a map. Save the GPS for the IFR flying.

One day, you will yearn for the opportunity to fly a plane that only requires sunglasses and a headset.:cool:

So true. I want to fly somewhere at 500' using a sectional, my eyes, and a clock.

My point is that I prefer to go direct. I feel like if the iPad did fail, I still would have a sectional to look at, VOR,etc. I don't see the need in plotting courses. And I know how much gas I'm consuming. I can plot direct, I don't want to plot waypoints.

Okay, I don't normally say something like this on APC, but there are 2 places I hope you don't wind up: on my seniority list, or in management.

North! To Alaska!

Get out of aviation.