Portable GPS’s

Why Portable
One of the problems of owning an airplane is that everything you install in it permanently must be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). On the surface this sounds like a good idea, and for many applications it is the “right” thing to do. However, because the costs of certification are high (think $50,000 for a certified incandescent light bulb) and the number of customers is relatively small, the cost of this requirement is quite obvious. Another problem is that the government moves glacially, while the electronics industry moves at Mach 3. So, the equipment that is installed in older planes cannot be upgraded cheaply to the “latest and greatest”. But, the FAA does allow for non-approved devices to be used for “situational awareness” as long as they are not permanently affixed to your aircraft – aha a useful loophole!

Difference between Portable and Installed
The major difference between the two is that a portable GPS cannot be certified for IFR use. You can get an older, cheaper certified GPS installed few a few thousand dollars to navigate in the system, fly approaches and generally satisfy the government. Then, you can add a portable GPS that has all the bells and whistles – such as weather, approach plates, etc. for less than a third of the cost of a certified system. Portable GPS’s can have their power hard wired to the plane and they can have mounts that are permanently attached to the plane without changing their “portable” status, making them just as useful and available as their certified counterparts.

The next installment will cover the different types and models.

Clear skies and tailwinds!
Mike