The biggest reason that I would ditch the LORAN and use and up to date GPS is the airspace notifications. There are far too many changes to our airspace occurring that a chart every six months is not enough of an update. A GPS subscription gives you updates once or twice a month, just like instrument approach charts. Especially on the East Coast, and up to the Mississippi River, our airspace needs the technology for long flights anyway. Otherwise you better get a very detailed flight briefing, which is now going to cost you money since that is now privatized.
More accurate and cheaper than a LORAN is the SP200 and similar radios that double as VOR receivers. You get a radio and nav in one. I have used it many times to fly airways and even shoot non-precision approaches when I thought the CDI might be going bad. Gives a display just like the King transceiver does with the digital CDI. Combine with GPS and you have the same positional awareness as an airliner. Also new GPS units are being made to be able to receive the new WAAS system information which will allow you to receive real time weather while in flight. Great for us VFR KR drivers. Also just as a side note, remember that ANY aircraft regardless of where MUST have a transponder/encoder installed and working, on altitude encoding or Mode C when above 10,000 feet unless you happen to also be within 2500 feet of the ground (AGL - like crossing a mountain range where you climbed up and will descend on the other side, or elevation stays that high, and you are just that low). Going to get the airplane today to mount the motor mount.... Colin Rainey brokerpilot9...@earthlink.net EarthLink Revolves Around You.
