GPS databases should be current for IFR flight and are recommended for VFR flight. Which option best reflects this guidance?

• A. Current for IFR and required for VFR
• B. Current for IFR and recommended for VFR
• C. Not required for IFR or VFR
• D. Current for VFR only

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is understanding when GPS navigation data need to be current and how that differs between IFR and VFR operations. For IFR flight, current navigation data are required because GPS procedures, fixes, and limits must match the published procedures exactly; using outdated data can lead to flying procedures that don’t align with the charts or can cause navigation errors. For VFR flight, there’s no regulatory requirement to have a current GPS database, but keeping the data up to date is recommended to improve accuracy, situational awareness, and reliability of moving-map guidance. So the choice that reflects “current for IFR and recommended for VFR” is the best answer. The other options imply that VFR data are required or that IFR data aren’t required, which isn’t correct.