Training, Safety and Design Considerations for GPS Use by Pilots in Wilderness and Other Featureless Terrain Areas

Dale DeRemer

Abstract:	This research investigates training, safety and design considerations for pilots using GPS in areas where only the basic techniques of dead reckoning and pilotage were usable prior to the advent of GPS. Data and impressions were obtained by the author while instructing 24 pilots from 6 countries in advanced wilderness seaplane operations. Four hundred fifty six flight hours were flown. The pilots ranged in age from 45-65 years, and possessed experience levels of 770-20,000 flight hours. Additionally, 32 commercial “bush” pilots who were utilizing various GPS receivers were interviewed. The main objective was to document and describe difficulties encountered when using this new tool in very difficult navigation situations, over featureless terrain and in moderately high latitudes (50 - 65 degrees north). Some of the key results and conclusions discussed in this effort are: 1. Safety of visual flight is affected by location of the input/output device in the cockpit and “cockpit friendliness” of the unit’s software package. 2. Safety of movement of the aircraft on the surface is affected by when the device is programmed by the pilot, display presentations during initialization and what is displayed after initialization. 3. Incorporation of the GPS into the cockpit management scene brings new problems, many of which have yet to be documented. Some of these are discussed. 4. The concept that anybody can use this new technology safely in the aviation environment is no more valid than the concept that just anybody can pick up a hammer and use it safely the first time.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 1995 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 18 - 20, 1995 Disneyland Hotel Anaheim, CA
Pages:	755 - 760
Cite this article:	DeRemer, Dale, "Training, Safety and Design Considerations for GPS Use by Pilots in Wilderness and Other Featureless Terrain Areas," Proceedings of the 1995 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, Anaheim, CA, January 1995, pp. 755-760.
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