Garmin GNS 530 / 430
Certainly
one of the most innovative products is the Garmin GNS 530 and 430 IFR certified
GPS/Nav/Com. These systems include a vast amount of capabilities, including full
color moving map and MFD capabilities. However, the highly capable nature of
this new equipment also creates an overload of information that some pilots are
having difficulty absorbing. While the 200 plus page Garmin Pilot's Guide should
be utilized in the cockpit as a reference, it leaves much room for improvement
when training pilots on the efficient use of the GNS 530/430.
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Conceptual -vs- Rote Training
Deploying
a conceptual approach to training, the ElectronicFlight CompleteLearning
Garmin GPS Navigation module represents a breakthrough in effective GPS
education. In the past, much of the GPS training concentrated on memorizing
lengthy procedures, a rote approach. In studies looking into the effect of rote
training on long term recall and problem solving, the rote method falls short in
preparing the pilot to solve problems or work new processes into the
ever-changing environment of aviation. Conceptual training, on the other hand,
provides the tools that allow the creation of new procedures on the fly, to
solve the problem at hand.
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To
achieve the goal of conceptual training, the CompleteLearning Garmin GPS
Navigation module teaches common tasks using a building block approach. By
teaching common tasks, the individual tasks can be combined to form any
procedure. Therefore, the pilot only needs to learn a few common tasks and
also the reasoning behind the use of those tasks. If the pilot knows the
reasoning behind the individual tasks, combining those tasks together is easy.
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CompleteLearning Features
The CompleteLearning methodology also offers the following features:
Tests knowledge as you go
Always offers a hint if you don’t know what to do
Correlation to familiar instrument charts
Offers the step by step procedure to practice what you’ve learned.
The ElectronicFlight CD-ROM also contains the Garmin simulator for the GNS 530 and 430.
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Teaching
Control Philosophy
The
training teaches the philosophy behind every button and function. It also
teaches how to navigate through the various screens of the Garmin GPS. This
gives a pilot the tools to perform any function, even functions that were not
intended by the engineers that created the GPS. The conceptual approach to
training is different than typical training methods, but the research into the
way people really learn has found that conceptual techniques are superior for
problem solving and memory retention.
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The GPS Satellite section thoroughly explains the GPS satellite system and what it means to a pilot. Using highly graphical animations to explain complex concepts in simple terms, it provides basic knowledge of a GPS system that applies to any GPS, not just the Garmin GNS 530/430.
The GPS training program provides the tools to answer your own questions. Instead of “What is the procedure to do …?”, the tools allow a pilot to just answer the question at hand. This process is actually very quick. Once through this mental exercise the first time, the effort exerted to accomplish the lengthy task actually forces the knowledge directly into long-term memory. Much better than just dumping a procedure into short-term memory and hoping it eventually works its way into long-term memory after multiple practice sessions.
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Garmin GPS Topics
The
following topics are included:
The satellite constellation, geometry and capabilities
3-D positioning, accuracy and RAIM calculations
Great circle routes and map datums
Common data entry methods
Menu branching and mode structure
Cross mode commonalties
Efficient use of the display elements
Using OBS mode to the greatest advantage
Interfaces to aircraft systems, moving maps and the autopilot
Precision and non-precision approaches
Using GPS for precision tracking in the hold
Flight plan creation, organization and manipulation
Direct-to and tracking operation
Loading predefined routes (SID/STAR)
Emergency airport searches
Waypoint information pages
VNAV operation
Intercept and tracking a multi-leg course
ILS integration, and much more
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