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3/21/24 

AIM 

(a) 

Conduct GPS IFR operations in oceanic areas only when approved avionics systems are installed. 

TSO

C196() users and TSO

C129() GPS users authorized for Class A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, or C2 operations may 

use GPS in place of another approved means of long

range navigation, such as dual INS. (See TBL 1

1

and TBL 1

1

6.) Aircraft with a single installation GPS, meeting the above specifications, are authorized to 

operate on short oceanic routes requiring one means of long

range navigation (reference AC 20-138, Appendix 

1). 

(b) 

Conduct GPS domestic, en route, and terminal IFR operations only when approved avionics 

systems are installed. Pilots may use GPS via TSO

C129() authorized for Class A1, B1, B3, C1, or C3 operations 

GPS via TSO-C196(); or GPS/WAAS with either TSO-C145() or TSO-C146(). When using TSO-C129() or 

TSO-C196() receivers, the avionics necessary to receive all of the ground

based facilities appropriate for the 

route to the destination airport and any required alternate airport must be installed and operational. 

Ground

based facilities necessary for these routes must be operational. 

(1) 

GPS en route IFR operations may be conducted in Alaska outside the operational service volume 

of ground

based navigation aids when a TSO

C145() or TSO

C146() GPS/wide area augmentation system 

(WAAS) system is installed and operating. WAAS is the U.S. version of a satellite-based augmentation system 

(SBAS). 

[a] 

In Alaska, aircraft may operate on GNSS Q-routes with GPS (TSO-C129 () or TSO-C196 ()) 

equipment while the aircraft remains in Air Traffic Control (ATC) radar surveillance or with GPS/WAAS 

(TSO-C145 () or TSO-C146 ()) which does not require ATC radar surveillance. 

[b] 

In Alaska, aircraft may only operate on GNSS T-routes with GPS/WAAS (TSO-C145 () or 

TSO-C146 ()) equipment. 

(2) 

Ground

based navigation equipment is not required to be installed and operating for en route IFR 

operations when using GPS/WAAS navigation systems. All operators should ensure that an alternate means of 

navigation is available in the unlikely event the GPS/WAAS navigation system becomes inoperative. 

(3) 

Q-routes and T-routes outside Alaska. Q-routes require system performance currently met by GPS, 

GPS/WAAS, or DME/DME/IRU RNAV systems that satisfy the criteria discussed in AC 90

100, U.S. Terminal 

and En Route Area Navigation (RNAV) Operations. T-routes require GPS or GPS/WAAS equipment. 

REFERENCE

 

AIM, Para 5

3

4, Airways and Route Systems. 

(c) 

GPS IFR approach/departure operations can be conducted when approved avionics systems are 

installed and the following requirements are met: 

(1) 

The aircraft is TSO

C145() or TSO

C146() or TSO

C196() or TSO

C129() in Class A1, B1, B3, 

C1, or C3; and 

(2) 

The approach/departure must be retrievable from the current airborne navigation database in the 

navigation computer. The system must be able to retrieve the procedure by name from the aircraft navigation 

database. Manual entry of waypoints using latitude/longitude or place/bearing is not permitted for approach 

procedures. 

(3) 

The authorization to fly instrument approaches/departures with GPS is limited to U.S. airspace. 

(4) 

The use of GPS in any other airspace must be expressly authorized by the FAA Administrator. 

(5) 

GPS instrument approach/departure operations outside the U.S. must be authorized  by the 

appropriate sovereign authority. 

4.  Departures and Instrument Departure Procedures (DPs) 

The GPS receiver must be set to terminal (

±

1 NM) CDI sensitivity and the navigation routes contained in the 

database in order to fly published IFR charted departures and DPs. Terminal RAIM should be automatically 

provided by the receiver. (Terminal RAIM for departure may not be available unless the waypoints are part of 

Navigation Aids 

1

1

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