Narrative:

Within a short period of time, I came across two IFR flight plans filed with the equipment suffix '/a,' yet including GPS or VFR GPS in the remarks section. As a controller, I find these remarks misleading at best and dangerous. For one thing if a pilot is flying on an IFR flight plan, I think it is dangerous to have VFR unnecessarily printed on the flight progress strip. It may lead the controller to believe the pilot is proceeding under visual flight rules, and to apply less than required separation from other IFR aircraft. For another thing, placing GPS in the remarks section indicates to me that either the equipment is not certified for use in IFR flight, or the pilot is not properly trained to use it. In either case, I, as a controller, do not need to know. Perhaps the pilot has the GPS as a back-up check on his other navigation equipment. Or maybe he is proud of his new toy he got this weekend. Again, in either case, I do not care to know. Solution: either purchase aviation navigation certified equipment, get the training required to properly use it, or, leave the GPS information off the flight plan.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VPS CTLR CONCERNED WITH LEGAL CODED INFO IN REMARKS SECTION OF FLT PLAN.

Narrative: WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, I CAME ACROSS TWO IFR FLT PLANS FILED WITH THE EQUIP SUFFIX '/A,' YET INCLUDING GPS OR VFR GPS IN THE REMARKS SECTION. AS A CTLR, I FIND THESE REMARKS MISLEADING AT BEST AND DANGEROUS. FOR ONE THING IF A PLT IS FLYING ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, I THINK IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE VFR UNNECESSARILY PRINTED ON THE FLT PROGRESS STRIP. IT MAY LEAD THE CTLR TO BELIEVE THE PLT IS PROCEEDING UNDER VISUAL FLT RULES, AND TO APPLY LESS THAN REQUIRED SEPARATION FROM OTHER IFR ACFT. FOR ANOTHER THING, PLACING GPS IN THE REMARKS SECTION INDICATES TO ME THAT EITHER THE EQUIP IS NOT CERTIFIED FOR USE IN IFR FLT, OR THE PLT IS NOT PROPERLY TRAINED TO USE IT. IN EITHER CASE, I, AS A CTLR, DO NOT NEED TO KNOW. PERHAPS THE PLT HAS THE GPS AS A BACK-UP CHECK ON HIS OTHER NAVIGATION EQUIP. OR MAYBE HE IS PROUD OF HIS NEW TOY HE GOT THIS WEEKEND. AGAIN, IN EITHER CASE, I DO NOT CARE TO KNOW. SOLUTION: EITHER PURCHASE AVIATION NAVIGATION CERTIFIED EQUIP, GET THE TRAINING REQUIRED TO PROPERLY USE IT, OR, LEAVE THE GPS INFO OFF THE FLT PLAN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.