IFR Equipment Requirements

[voorheesh]

If a GPS is connected to an air data computer which knows true airspeed (obvioulsy we don't have this stuff in our old aircraft), couldn't it do a reverse computation and give us a pretty accurate compass heading? Garmin 530/1000 equipment can already calculate wind speed and direction can it compute TAS? I still maintain that it is up to manufacturers and ultimately aviation consumers to develop this type of technology. Anyone can apply for certification of a device that will accomplish the function of a gyroscopic direction indicator and the FAA already has an evaluation mechanism in place so it can be approved if it meets the criteria. The 91.205 rule already accounts for an "equivalent" so if we ever get a device with FAA approved data that allows it to perform a heading indication function, it will be good to go. If it saves weight and is less costly than current gyros, consumers will buy it. I bet that a cutting edge company like Garmin is already on stuff like this.

[GAHorn]

[...For that matter, I assume ATC knows I'm GPS-equipped, because I said so on my flight plan (aircraft type C170/G). If they took advantage of that and vectored me using ground track directions instead of headings, ...

ATC also knows you're Gyroscopic Heading Indicator-equipped, and when they assign a heading, they expect you to fly a heading, not tracks.

[jrenwick]

[...For that matter, I assume ATC knows I'm GPS-equipped, because I said so on my flight plan (aircraft type C170/G). If they took advantage of that and vectored me using ground track directions instead of headings, ...

ATC also knows you're Gyroscopic Heading Indicator-equipped, and when they assign a heading, they expect you to fly a heading, not tracks.

Yeah, of course I know how it works today. This was just a bit of fantasizing about how things could be done in an alternate universe. I'm resuming normal programming now....

John