Minimal Compliance with 91.205 for IFR

[MercFE]

GPS-400W are going for around $4000.

Originally Posted by snopercod

$10,600 is "low end"? I must be way out of touch... I'm in the same position as you and would like to upgrade my VFR panel to "minimalist" IFR. I guess I could be "legal" with a cheap VOR but don't see the point. The cheapest GPS that I know of would be a used GNS-430W for around $8,000. I just can't afford that.

[RV10Pilot]

You do not "need" a GPS of any kind to fly in the IFR system. In fact the required equipment is very minimal. Here is a good eaa article https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/aviation-...ifr-operations You don't even "need" a transponder (but that sure would keep to out of a lot of airspace). Most any EFIS will provide the flight instruments. Then a single COM for communications and then Navigation equipment suitable for the route being flown. A single Nav radio would allow you to fly IFR vor to vor and then vor approaches. Intersections would be a challenge with a single Nav, but it would meet the requirement.

A magnetic compass, EFIS, alternator or generator, COM radio and Nav Radio would meet the minimum requirements. Would it be prudent or practical, NO, but it would meet the minimums

[jrs14855]

When you have a total electrical failure it no longer matters how many navs, comms, etc you have installed. A far better consideration for "light" IFR is a hand held navcom and GPS to back up the required panel mounted equipment.

[MercFE]

Better yet... Take electrical failures into consideration when you design you electrical system.

Originally Posted by jrs14855

When you have a total electrical failure it no longer matters how many navs, comms, etc you have installed. A far better consideration for "light" IFR is a hand held navcom and GPS to back up the required panel mounted equipment.

[mdevans9]

To pick a nit, and this has been discussed thoroughly in other threads, a magnetic compass is not the requirement, although that will meet the requirement. An EFIS displaying magnetic direction will also meet the requirement.

Best regards,

Merrill

[BobTurner]

The bottom line to this post is that Flying isn't cheap. Flying IFR is more expensive. The reasons are regulatory and political (so I won't go there). I'm sure that there are pilots out there shooting LNAV approaches using the GPS in an iPad. To be honest, that option is about #6 on my list of backups if everything goes kaput. But it certainly ups the risk factor, and definitely is illegal.

[terrykohler]

After flying a very well loaded Cessna T210 for many years, I built my 9A to be a really bare bones instrument machine - No vacuum system, ADI (with backup battery) for heading and attitude, an electric turn coordinator to provide some attitude redundancy, whiskey compass, SL70 transponder and SL40 Comm. Navigation was limited to a Val429 and a Garmin396. This was backed up by a handheld Nav/Comm.

The problem going forward was the de-proliferation of VOR stations and outer markers, which were being replaced by GPS fixes. While the 396 was recognized by ATC as an enhancement for positional awareness, I was increasingly being blocked out of more and more VOR and ILS approaches.

Could I still function without installing a GTN650 and multiple EFISs? Sure, but as has already been pointed out, if your going to be "in the system", sooner or later you'll find the need to fly an approach and not just enroute. Rather than continue with just enough gear to get by, I can now get into any airport with a published approach. Financially it doesn't make any sense, but neither do most of the things I do for "fun".
Terry, CFI
RV9A N323TP

[snopercod]

Originally Posted by MercFE

GPS-400W are going for around $4000.

Thanks for that. I see them advertised on eBay for as low as $2,500. That's more in my price range.

[BobTurner]

Originally Posted by snopercod

Thanks for that. I see them advertised on eBay for as low as $2,500. That's more in my price range.

Buyer beware! That's well below the going rate for a used 400W.

[YellowJacket RV9]

Originally Posted by snopercod

Thanks for that. I see them advertised on eBay for as low as $2,500. That's more in my price range.

That's seems to be the starting bid, but I don't see much chance of snagging one for under $4-5k. Not to mention the ongoing costs of keeping the database current.

[Thread drift] It's a shame, because I think there would be a number of cost effective, 'experimental' solutions that would be far more reliable than the 'approved' 20-50 year old technology that people are flying with. I understand the point of the TSO for IFR GPS, but I would still contend that my odds of a critical failure affecting the safety of an IFR approach would be much higher in the steam gauge 172 I learned in than in my 9A with dual EFIS, battery backup, and a non-approved WAAS GPS. Another case of regulations keeping us less safe.

Chris