Rabbi Rothavich of Sde Dov (LLSD) said of Rabbi Moishe ben Dov of Safat (LLSF, 602 cubits): It is said that in those days Rabbi Moishe ben Dov of Safat had undertaken the study of instrument flight, because it is also said that one who has a private license and knows about many different aspects of flight still is not knowledgable in the ways of the skys of Geshem, and is not permitted to enter class Aleph airspace.
So Rabbi Natan ben Shlomo of Hertzylia Petuach (LLHZ) performed the mitzvah of instrument instruction for Rabbi Moishe ben Dov of Safat.
Rabbi Mordechai ben Shuel of Elath (LLET), who had only one eye but still had a medical waiver, said: But is it not also said that in those days there was no ILS, only NDB?
Rabbi Yeheshkel of Kfir Oshkosh (KOSH) said: It is true, but as it is written: "Instrument instruction must include at least three different types of approach." Why would there be a requirement for three different approaches if there was only NDB?
At that time, Rabbi Mordechai ben Shuel of Elath replied: A man could spend his days studying NDB approaches and in those days people would also consult their charts to see if they could approach with radioranging. ATC would clear the man for the approach without a requirement to first ascertain whether he is going to use it for his own purposes or for the purpose of idol worship. But even if we count radioranging, that is only two types of approach.
Rabbi Mordechai went on to explain that there must have been a VOR approach at that time. This he deduced because there were no rules written about Loran. Therefore, since there was no writing about Loran, a man would not have been permitted to use Loran, even if he could conceive of such a system.
Then Rabbi Yeheshkel of Kfir Oshkosh asked, if it was written that at least three different approaches should be used, what would happen if a man does not have an ADF? Surely the FAA, in its near infinite wisdom would have written rules to cover GPS. But how could anyone back then have known about GPS?
To which Rabbi Mordechai ben Shuel of Elath replied: The rules were written to cover GPS. Even in the time of radioranging, there were BUFF drivers who would have a messenger behind them to look up and count the stars. When the messenger saw three stars in the correct arrangement, the messanger would tell the BUFF driver the correct navigation. So even in those days, such navigation was possible.
Rabbi Rothavich of Sde Dov then said, if a poor man has no RNAV and his GPS is not one of those which is sanctified, can he ask ATC for a direct clearance? Surely the request of the poor man for free flight is especially meritorious and ATS cannot refuse to help the poor man. But we all know that ATC cannot allow the poor man to use a traif GPS.
Rabbi Mordechai ben Shuel of Elath went on to say, that if a poor man has no ADF, and requests an approach, ATC shall not refuse it unless ATC has no free airspace. Rabbi Mordechai then reasoned that if the poor man stated "handheld GPS" in his writing, then ATC is not permitted to give the poor man clearance based on the traif GPS, for he is certainly without RNAV. But ATC should not deny the poor man his request. So what should ATC do?
Rabbi Mordechai ben Shuel of Elath replied that if the poor man has a treif GPS and ATC knows that the GPS is treif, then ATC should nevertheless grant the poor man his request. But ATC cannot grant the poor man the clearance based on the treif GPS. Instead, ATC should allow the poor man to use his gyrocompass, since ATC can follow the poor man with radar. In that way, ATC does not have to approve the traif GPS and the poor man may still obtain his clearance.
Therefore, it is unfair to deny a poor man access to free flight.
(adapted)
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