I fly a lot of IFR in my Mooney Ovation.  My Mooney has a dual Garmin 430 panel that has not been upgraded to WAAS.  I file /G and do GPS approaches, but obviously am not able to do the new LPV approaches without the WAAS upgrade.  I also navigate using my GPS rather than VORs (although in my prior plane I used VORs)

 

I understood that the FreeFlight would not allow me to do LPV approaches but thought that I could do standard GPS approaches and navigate using GPS rather than VORs.  I would not like to take a step back to having to navigate using VORs and giving up the ability to file /G and do GPS approaches.  I will have a Garmin SL-30 Nav/Com in my plane.

 

Is the FreeFlight "SIL" just another CYA or attempt to get us to upgrade to the 1201 (or Chelton) or will I need to revert to using VORs?  Am I missing something?

Doug,

 

Yes.  Even though one could file /G with a GPS with RAIM, one still had to obey Far 91.205(d)(2) - to paraphrase: 2-way radio and navigation equipment appropriate to the ground facilities to be used.  What that means is TSO'd GPS is usable as for navigation in a radar environment (appropriate ground equipment), but not as a primary in non radar environments - in the mountains - thus, one must have had VOR nav capabilities.

 

TSO'd GPS with WAAS is sufficient as a stand-alone navigation system so that it may be used as a primary navigation system in any environment.

 

Both GPS systems allow one to file /G, defined as GNSS, including GPS or WAAS, with en route and terminal facility.

 

If by "Free Flight" you mean reduced vertical separation, that is a whole other story.  Enjoy your reading.

 

If you have the patience, read the the AIM navigation section 1-1-19 GPS in the 2007 FAR/AIM publication.