The Summer flying season is here again. As more light aircraft are getting increasingly sophisticated panel-mounted GPS systems, pilots are freer to navigate away from airways and radio navigational aids. One of the most obvious things to try is to just fly a straight line to the destination. It's called "GPS direct". But I'll show some local examples from here in Northern California why that isn't always a good idea. A GPS is still an enormously useful navigation tool. But it requires delving deeper into how that GPS gadget works to get the best use of it.
Continue reading Flying GPS-direct is simple - but still no substitute for thinking.
