Satellite Navigation

[Holden McGroin]

I have wondered about the value of replacing a $5 state map or a $20 map book with a $1000 Sat Nav system... and then I read this:

Motorists Switch Satnav On, Brain Off  full article...An ambulance driver with a faulty satnav drove more than 600 km while transferring a patient from one hospital in Ilford east of London to another in Brentwood -- 13 km away. He was near Manchester, northern England, before realizing his error.

[Nilsen]

Very true indeed... i see it all to often on the sea aswell. Numpties with too much money to spend on a shiny new boat, satnav and no clue on how to read a map. The result can be anything from higly amusing to deadly.

[Maverick]

I used a GPS while flying. I thought it was absolutely great as a SECONDARY means of navigation. I always had my sectional out and was aware of my location from orienting from the map and terrain then used the GPS as a confirmation.

If you are over the top or in solid clouds you really don't have much choice which to use in some areas as you'll be out of VOR range. NDB's can help but won't be really precise.

For blue water the same can be said as there are few road signs in the ocean and loran is or has gone away. If you have a sextant, tables, charts and skill you can navigate the old fashioned way on the water.