George Clark Velguth

In an age when consumers routinely install updates in all manner of electronic devices, the requirement that aviation navigation and terrain databases be maintained only by certified maintenance technicians seems hopelessly behind the times. The process of updating these databases is wheat-paste simple so that no special training—certainly not full A&P certification—is necessary to its proper completion. What’s more, the process is idiot-proof since update version numbers are displayed, and often must be acknowledged, whenever the unit is turned ON. Commercial operators often delay installation of database updates until it is convenient for the aircraft to visit a maintenance location. Such delays may reduce operational efficiency and add unnecessarily to cost if it becomes necessary to forego use of the device while awaiting update of an expired database. What’s more, flight safety is affected when use of direct-to navigation and particularly terrain awareness devices are precluded due to database expiry. The sensible solution of permitting database update to be performed by pilots will alleviate all of the above-mentioned problems and represents a common-sense approach to an increasingly common task.