Here are a couple of useful tips I got from a very good CFII
- When selecting an approach, never choose "vectors for final". Choose the IAF which makes the most sense from your position. Even if ATC will give you vectors, they may at any time choose to say "go direct PLASM" or something, and if you don't have the full approach, you will be one busy knob twister. If you actually do get nothing but vectors to final, simply activating the final leg of the approach is good enough.
- After entering a flight plan, always zoom out and look for "spikes". These are misspellt intersections. Much better to find out now than later, when the autopilot decides to make a 90 degree turn into the mountains.
- If you fly certain routes often, save a flight plan with all the usual alternate routes programmed in. It is far easier to delete existing entries as ATC gives you your next routing than to twist in new waypoints.
- Get used to using "direct enter enter" and "menu enter enter" without looking at the screen.
Did you know about this bizarre behaviour where the GNS430 will deactivate the approach if you're even just a little off of the FAF? The natural reaction of most people is to "reactivate the approach", which will send you back to the IAF - not a good idea when on autopilot with 500feet/min descent rate dialed in...
-- Christian Goetze, April 10, 2006
Hello Phillip,For finding the nearest approach or departure controller, it requires a few (many) more key presses knob twisting, but here's a way you can do it: Go to the nearest airport page, and pick the nearest airport. Bring up that airport's frequency page, and find its departure or approach frequency. This is more often than not the proper apch/dep controller for the area, or someone who can hand you off correctly.
-- Joshua Levinson, February 17, 2009
I just came across your review of the Garmin 530/430. I have to say that I think your view of the GNS530 being "nearly impossible to learn" and "unsafe" is a bit off the mark.I fly the Boeing 747-400 and I find the system logic to be very similar to the Boeing and very user friendly. These units are designed for IFR flying. They do have a few things that are missing like airways and altitudes but they are very good in the IFR environment. If you just have the basic understanding that you can only navigate to a point and not from a point you are halfway there. Remember that these units are over 10 years old now. There was no such thing as an iPad or touch screens 10 years ago. They don't do everything for you but they do what you need very well.
-- Lance M, November 28, 2011