Non-radar IFR: put on legal thinking caps!!

[avbug]

Ackattacker is quite correct. ATC doesn't care how you determined your position, just that you can provide it. You cannot use the handheld GPS for primary navigation, but you can use it as an additional resource to help you remain situationally aware. If it helps you say "thirty miles south of naganapsiwipisic," then all the more power to you.

 

[Freighter]

If on a IFR flight plan and are no longer in radar contact ATC will put you on an airway, that way they can keep track of you. I flew freight for yrs and everytime they gave me the option of either climbing to a highter altitude for radar contact or join the airway closest to my route of flight.

 

[gern_blanston]

...you shouldn't file LAT/LONG in an IFR flt plan, unless your above 450)

Not true. If you're filing to a fix or airport in a different ARTCC, the controllers will frequently ask for the polar coordinates of the fix. Filing to a VOR works, but not an intersection or an airport. Something about the regional computers not talking to each other or something. Happens to us all the time when we file direct to our home airport from East of the Rockies.

 

[Vector4fun]

Not true. If you're filing to a fix or airport in a different ARTCC, the controllers will frequently ask for the polar coordinates of the fix. Filing to a VOR works, but not an intersection or an airport. Something about the regional computers not talking to each other or something. Happens to us all the time when we file direct to our home airport from East of the Rockies.

Not any Terminal Controllers. And if you file from, say, MCI direct to 36-43-56N / 119-49-11W with nothing else in the flight plan, when you could have very easily fliled MCI..COS..FAT..FCH; and thereby given me just a clue as to your initial direction of flight, don't be surprised if you get assigned a DP and transition that makes no sense whatsoever, and I won't have time or inclination to correct it either.

 

[gern_blanston]

Nah, talking about center controllers. When I filed (past tense) direct to KSLE, I got "What are the polar coordinates of that airport" but if I file direct to DSD direct KSLE, it's no problem. Also, I always file a SID that goes in the right direction, then from the termination point, (or from a VOR that's a hundred miles downrange towards my destination) direct to a VOR within ZSE's area of influence, or plug in 44'54"N/123'00"W.