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Hi all, Long time lurker, first time poster as I just bought my Mooney this week. I will be replacing a KX-170B nav/com with Garmin's newish GNC355 waas/com. The CDI currently installed is an older design, I believe a KI-209, but the aircraft is currently getting its annual so I'm not 100% sure. The avionics shop that will (probably) do the installation told me: "One thing to note, if it matters to you, your existing indicator does not have an OBS Resolver compatible with the GPS. That will limit you to non-precision GPS approaches." I assume they are referring to LPV approaches here since the box doesn't have a nav radio and there is nothing else connected to the CDI (though LPVs technically aren't precision approaches?). Does anyone here know more about this? I thought no OBS resolver simply meant you couldn't use the OBS knob in OBS mode, though you could still input a radial in via the touch interface. Do LPV approaches really require an OBS resolver? If so, I may just be poorer than I thought Thanks, Vince

Did anyone else get the FAASTeam e-mail discussing Notice Number NOTC6369 with the above title? The upshot is that the FAA is telling us that if we want to use a WAAS GPS to fly a LPV approach or LNAV/VNAV approach to a Decision Altitude lower than the non-precision MDA we need a Letter of Authorization from our FSDO. No kidding. That notice refers to an earlier notice with much more detail: http://fsims.faa.gov/wdocs/notices/n8900_248.htm The notice refers to FAA Order 8900.1, Volume 3, Chapter 18, Section 5, paragraph C073. That reference can be found at http://fsims.faa.gov/wdocs/8900.1/v03%20tech%20admin/chapter%2018/03_018_005.htm. I raised the issue with my avionics tech who, in turn, queried his contact at the FSDO, His reply: Attached is a copy of the LOA requested. The person applying must be willing to accept the conditions in the document. Item 3f is language that is designed for the 121 or 135 world. Our internal guidance states that the "91 operator must be proficient with the VNAV and the IAP to be flown." Discussing this requirement with an operations inspector, we will accept a log book endorsement from an authorized instructor to verify the proficiency. The operator will have to send a letter to the FSDO requesting the LOA . Our office will need to establish a operator file. In the application package please include: Aircraft- make, make, model, s/n, and N# Equipment- make, model and copy of page of flight manual or supplement that states the equipment is capable of the approaches requested. Company or person- name, phone #, email and address Proof of proficiency, must be in aircraft training or school like FlightSafety, not an online coarse. Airport- where aircraft is based. Has anyone else looked into this? The burden is to provide paperwork (the AFMS for your WAAS GPS will have that info -- look for the latest version), get an endrosement (you've flown with your instructor and done LPV approaches to minimums, right?) and get the LOA. Thoughtful comments requested. Dave Piehler