wrote:
So... just got an email from Sportys about the new Garmin GPSMAP 396.

It looks pretty cool! A handheld with weather and terrain!

Also interesting are the interface features to get TIS from a GTX330

Here's a question for the propellerheads out the does TIS rely on a
Mode S squawk originating from the aircraft, or is it theoretically
possible to have a Mode S receiver-only? It would be nice to get
traffic without neding to upgrade your transponder, though this thing
is a brilliant way to get many people to do that upgrade without
needing to also go in for a 430/530 rig to get the value.

Ah, but alas, products like this make me yearn for IFR approaches in a
handheld. If only....

The FAA already approves of devices like this as situational awareness
devices. At this point I am coming close to concluding that the failure
to include approaches constitutes a major loss of added awareness and
thus compromises the potential of the device to enhance safety. What do
we need to do to get Garmin et. al. to include them?