GPS vs. Radio Navigation

In commercial airliners almost all of them use a FMC or FMS (flight management computer or system) and you put al of you data in them and it will fly the plane for you. If you get PMDG 737 or the LDS 767 them have them in them. Pilots would barely use VOR tracking as the FMC would do that for them.

In order to use the FMC as primary means of navigation, you MUST have another way to navigate. This could be an INS, GPS integrated system, etc.

You'd still tune in the Navaid to ensure what you have in the FMS is accurate. As they say "Garbage in, garbage out."

FS9 spoils us. All you have to do is plug in a GPS and away you go. Not true in a lot of real airplanes (mine included). Both for weight and cost reasons, there are many light aircraft not equipped with GPS so the answer to your question about when I would use VOR's as opposed to GPS is: Always!

Don Wood wrote:

FS9 spoils us. All you have to do is plug in a GPS and away you go. Not true in a lot of real airplanes (mine included). Both for weight and cost reasons, there are many light aircraft not equipped with GPS so the answer to your question about when I would use VOR's as opposed to GPS is: Always!

I agree with you. I always use VOR's and NDB's. The GPS makes it too easy, plus using the Navaids gives you more to do on a flight. 🙂

yeah, I almost never use the GPS on the flight sim. I've got the 1:500000 uk charts so I use them if i'm in the UK.
If i'm flying abroad I'll make a note of the vor fregs, distances and headings on a scrap of paper and then use that for the flight.

if i'm in the PSSa340 i'll use the FMC.

If you want to fly IFR, look into getting some High charts for the area you fly in.