ATP checkride, ForeFlight and portable GPS

[AlanM]

Hi. I'm about to take my ATP check ride on June 16. I use ForeFlight on an iPAD mounted to the side window and within ForeFlight I use a Bad Elf portable GPS receiver to geo-locate my airplane UPON THE iPAD DISPLAY. The check ride and training airplane is all glass, so I'm expecting at least an MFD failure. With that in mind, do you think that the DPE will also "fail" my Bad Elf at the same time? My CFII thinks the DPE won't even let me use the Bad Elf at all on the ride. I can't find anything in the PTS that says anything one way or the other. My opinion (which counts for squat) is that the iPAD/ForeFlight/Bad Elf is a separate system to provide MFD redundancy. Even ATPs need redundancy, I think. So....does anyone have any thoughts on how I should handle this potential issue? Thanks.

 

[Gucci Pilot]

The ATP ride is more about using good CRM which includes using everything at your disposal. Will he let you use it or not, I have no idea. Best advise I can give you is be able to fly using the old school method. With paper charts and no geo-reference approach plates. I know for the non-precision approaches it says, "One approach should be flown with reference to backup or “fail down” instrumentation or navigation display depending on the aircraft’s avionics configuration." So plan for that.

 

[frfly172]

For my ride ,I was not allowed portable ,non mounted devices. Wanted to use 496,and IPad with foreflight. Wasn't allowed. The airplane I used was all old avionics.

 

[poadeleted20]

FAA Order 8900.2A has no provision allowing examiners to deny the use of any portable devices as long as they comply with 14 CFR 91.21. Of course, the DPE can certainly simulate any single-point failure, which includes simulating the loss of GPS satellite signals, taking out all the GPS devices you have (installed or otherwise). OTOH, they are not supposed to take away one device after another in a manner which would require multiple independent failures. Any questions on these issues should be directed through the DPE's POI at the FSDO up to AFS-800, which sets policy in this area.