"Jim Logajan" wrote in message
.. .

Interesting responses from the FSDOs. In the 6 years since you posed your
scenario to the FSDOs, have any of the FARs been changed that might now
make use of a handheld GPS during IFR illegal?


No.



For that matter, is there anything in the FARs that dictate the equipment
the pilot _must_ use during IFR, or the manner in which the pilot must use
any of the required and installed equipment? I'm rather hazy on the FARs
for IFR but nothing comes to mind.


Not directly, but specific operations can certainly imply the use of
specific equipment. For example, a VOR approach that lacks a GPS overlay.
But a direct clearance does not imply the use of any specific equipment.