The point is those updates may have expired, and it's required to have updated avionics data before flight, not if OTA updates are available or not. You're sup

The point is those updates may have expired, and it's required to have updated avionics data before flight, not if OTA updates are available or not. You're supposed to have "all available data" with you during flight, but for local VFR it's not as big an issue as for IFR or Parts 121/135 operations. In Canada, they rename the position fixes to catch you. Messed up, but very effective! Expensive too, as I was buying plates for just one flight during the update period. (I say it's messed up because pro pilots in the US can/are expected to memorize fixes and frequencies, but one of those is not possible in Canada. I was listening to 2 Aloha Airlines pilots talking once, and the captain gave his copilot shit for not memorizing the frequencies they have to use every day.)