(Hankal) wrote:
Just looked at my approach plates. Very few have NDB approaches, some are VOR
DME, some require ADF. More and more now are GPS.
Since I can use the GPS instead of DME for Some VOR approaches, is it not wise
(prudent)
to get an IFR certified GPS now?
Should it be a Garmin 430 or a 480? The cost of the 480 is about 2 grand more,
but I could use it for ILS approaches.

Can't you fly an ILS with either the 430 or the 480?

Here's my personal opinion on the state of IFR GA avionics today.

1) ADF is dead.

2) DME is dead.

3) GPS is the way to go.

4) You need some sort of backup if the GPS goes TU. A conventional
NAV/COM with GS driving its own CDI means you can get vectors to an ILS
if you need to. My club has been gravitating towards the SL-30 as our
standard #2 NAV/COM, but you don't need to be that fancy.

For better or worse, Garmin pretty much has a lock on the market today.
Assuming your budget precludes the 530 (gotta love that big screen), the
only real choice is between the 430 and the 480. My personal opinion is
that on technical merits, the 480 is the better box, but the big open
question is which of the two will Garmin continue to support in the
future. Garmin's not talking, but my guess (and it's really just a
guess) is that the 430 is going to be retired soon.

My ADF is useless and I am contemplating a GPS in the place on the panel.
I have never flown a GPS approach.

Whatever box you buy, there will be a learning curve, and you had better
budget some learning time to master the software on whatever box you
install. But once you do, flying a GPS approach is much easier than
just about anything else (except perhaps vectors to an ILS).