What is the purpose of using GPS in IFR navigation?

The primary purpose of using GPS in IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) navigation is to provide accurate position data, course guidance, and navigation support during flight. GPS technology allows pilots to determine their precise location anywhere in the world, which is critical for successful navigation, especially when flying in poor visibility or adverse weather conditions.

In IFR operations, maintaining an accurate understanding of one's position is vital for safely navigating from departure to destination, as well as for executing instrument approaches and departures. GPS provides pilots with a reliable and efficient means of navigating specific waypoints and ensures that they can follow their intended flight paths accurately. This precise positioning capability enhances situational awareness, helps in avoiding terrain, and supports safe separation from airspace boundaries, all of which are critical in IFR operations.

While other answers touch on various aspects related to aviation, they do not capture the central role GPS plays in navigation processes during IFR flights. Tracking other aircraft, assisting in air traffic control communication, and minimizing fuel consumption might be secondary benefits of technology and procedures in the aviation system, but they do not define the essential purpose of GPS in the context of IFR navigation.