Post by Alpha PropellerheadNo it doesn't. Close, but a real Garmin 430 is easier to set up.
Sounds like you're not using the real simulator, but just the built-in MSFS
simulation.
The real simulator was written by Garmin. As far as I can tell (since I have
the real manual) the simulated 430 and 530 work exactly like the real-world
manual describes, or at least I haven't found discrepancies between the manual
and the simulated 430/530. I asked about temporary waypoints because it's not
documented very well in the manual.
Nothing changes for FSX. It's the same simulator (if you are using Garmin's
simulator).
Post by Alpha PropellerheadFor reference, I'm using FS2004 and I teach on a
Frasca Tru-Flite with a Garmin 430, a Garmin 430 training system and a
C-172 with a G430. The flightsim Garmin is the most cumbersome to
program and some of the features don't work quite as well.
If you are still using the built-in GPS, I agree. I haven't looked at that in
years.
Head on over to Reality XP and get one that actually behaves like the genuine
article.
Post by Alpha PropellerheadIf everybody plays nice, I might post the lesson plan I'm working on for
teaching/learning the Garmin on the PC versus in the cockpit.
Don't waste your time on the built-in GPS. Use the real sim, and then there
won't be any differences worth documenting.
Post by Alpha PropellerheadI think it's less tedious on the actual device. Legally, to use a GPS
overlay for an existing VOR or NDB approach, the waypoints must be in
the database and not manually entered.
I use my own waypoints only for VFR (and to compensate for the lack of
database updates with the simulated 430/530--occasionally a waypoint will move
or a new one will appear).
Post by Alpha PropellerheadSome fascinating trivia that the FAA and the AOPA have shared is that
since so many people are flying GPS on autopilot now, instead of being
spread out across the airways, airplanes are automatically flying
themselves right down the center of the airway which means it's only a
matter of time before somebody flying a route by GPS at 120kts gets
overtaken and chewed up by somebody flying the same at 220kts. Kinda
scary if you think about it.
Yes, I've been worrying about that for quite some time. Greater accuracy
hugely increases the chance of collisions, especially if the increase in
accuracy is not accompanied by collision-avoidance technologies like TCAS.
Post by Alpha PropellerheadIn fact, I did a flight review for a pilot recently who had a GPS and
he spent so much head-down time in the cockpit with it that he'd lose
his situational awareness. Everytime he looked down, he'd lose 200
feet but he didn't look at his altimeter enough to realize how much
altitude he was losing. He might be banking 20 degrees, approaching
the yellow arc and losing 300 fpm or climbing up to 1000' AGL pattern
altitude after a cross country, but, dammit, he stayed RIGHT ON that
pink line.
Yet another problem of GPS. Many real-life pilots seem to be way too dependent
on GPS, and since they believe they know everything, they are unwilling to
hear about the dangers of this. Sim pilots make the same mistakes, but they
don't die from them.
Post by Alpha PropellerheadA great Flight Sim exercise is to launch your cross country into IFR
by GPS and, at some point when you're enroute, turn the GPS off to
simulate a failure. If you lose situational awareness in actual IMC,
you'll be wanting diapers.
Agreed. Since I am wary of GPS, I like to practice using various forms of
navigation, from pilotage to flight management systems. The GPS never fails in
the sim, of course (unless you want it to), but if it did, I'd be able to find
my way home. I try to keep a few VORs tuned if I can.
A somewhat riskier undertaking that I occasionally chance in the sim is using
the TAWS/GPWS to help remain safe during nighttime VFR. I don't know if I'd
trust the database in real life, but in the sim the database comes directly
from the sim's own terrain database, so it's always 100% accurate. Even then,
mistakes can be made.