Can you fly IFR with only GPS?

Ground-based navigation equipment is not required for en route IFR RNAV operations when using GPS WAAS navigation systems. To use GPS for IFRapproaches, you must use GPS avionics that are properly approved and installed, and all approach procedures to be flown must be retrievable from the airborne navigation database.



In 2026, you can fly under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) using only GPS as your primary source of navigation, provided the aircraft is equipped with a TSO-C145 or TSO-C146 WAAS-capable (Wide Area Augmentation System) GPS receiver. This technology allows pilots to fly point-to-point "RNAV" routes and execute high-precision "LPV" (Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance) approaches that are nearly as accurate as a traditional ILS. However, from a regulatory and safety standpoint, there is a catch: if your GPS is not WAAS-capable, you must generally have a secondary, traditional form of navigation (like a VOR or ADF) on board and be able to use it if the GPS signal is lost. Furthermore, even with a WAAS GPS, if your alternate airport only has GPS approaches, you must ensure your system has "RAIM" (Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring) availability for the duration of the flight. While the aviation industry is rapidly "sunsetting" ground-based VOR stations, having a backup remains a core principle of airmanship to protect against potential satellite outages or signal jamming in specific airspaces.

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In theory, a pilot can operate in sub-VMC conditions under IFR without an ATC clearance in Class G airspace. However, to enter or operate in controlled airspace under IFR, an ATC clearance is required.

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Many pilots use GPS as an aid to visual flight rules (VFR) navigation. The key word is aid, because VFR means seeing the terrain well enough to confirm your position on a map. Avionics used for VFR do not check for errors in satellite signals, so your GPS position could be bad.

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It's important to remember that VFR and IFR are sets of rules that apply both to pilots and airplanes. Some airplanes will be equipped to fly using both, but others are only VFR equipped. It's important to double-check your plane and make sure you are properly equipped.

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When flying under VFR rules, you can use an ILS to help guide you to land. Typically, at an airport with an ILS, you cannot just jump onto it yourself when flying under VFR rules, but instead you can request Approach / Tower, that as VFR, for premission to fly a Practice ILS approach under VFR flight rules.

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