Of course along with this comes increased safety and utility-like the airlines. I guess my point is-Ga airplanes are rapidly becoming what commercial aircraft have become-a computer system monitored by the pilot. He is actually trying to demote himself to a dc-9 for more enjoyment and challenge.I use my autopilot all the time-and live for my gps's-but nothing beats the 'enjoyment' of doing a challenging maneuver by hand. I also know a Northwest 747 pilot who has to do sim training every month to stay current as almost his entire flights are flown by autopilot. I just think the old & bold are too lazy to figure out how to use these 'enhanced' safety devices!!!L.Adamson

You just can't beat them for situational awareness and when old/bold pilots believe these units make new pilots lazy. It's a fact, a modern GPS moving map will tell you instantly where you are & where you're going, along with terrain & obstacle warnings. as an investigation into the AA757 (South America) & Ron Brown 737 flying into rising terrain, pointed out that a full range moving map could have provided the pilots a 'big picture' of the situation that they didn't have.

Some prefer the chart & cross-check instrument method, but it doesn't help when you only have a few seconds to regain your 'lost' bearings.I've even now heard the term 'idiot gauge' in reference to using a GPS. They survived, thanks to cell phones, but didn't see the mountain at all.Since I've been pushing 'moving maps' for about 12 years or so, I really believe in them, whether panel or hand-held. Another tried to follow the freeway to clear wheather but made a wrong turn into a blind canyon and an IFR student & instructor flying in complete darkness hit a mountain peak before activating their flight plan. And in one case last year, the pilot was actually on an IFR plan, and had cancelled to fly to the local airport, but mistakingly turned towards rising terrain.

Far too many pilots fly into rising terrain around here, when sudden IMC (whiteouts) occur, especially in darkness. to make myself look smarter than I am at least to the casual observer! :)But, one thing about it these new moving maps greatly add to the 'instant' situational awareness when urgently required. But I wonder if some of us who learned on steam>gauges may find ourselves missing those challenging days at>some point.Possibly!!!Besides, I crammed all those steam gauges into my plane.

Cessna 172 G1000 Fs2004 Full