Moving Map: North-Up vs. Track-Up

Hello,

ran into a discussion with a pilot-friend-of-mine on sunday about how to set
up our GNS430 on a short IFR Trip.

I prefer a North-Up mode, because it makes it easier for me to corelate
what's on the screen with the paper-charts I have on my kneeboard.

He wanted it to be in either Track-Up or (me complaining about a
too-frequent need for redraw) Desired-Track-Up mode. Reason was he wanted
the screen helping him to build a "mental-picture" about what's ahead and
around.

No consens was found so I would like to hear from you: are your a "North-Up"
or a "Track-Up" sort of pilot (explanation why you are would help)?

Best Regards

Kai

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No consens was found so I would like to hear from you: are your a
"North-Up" or a "Track-Up" sort of pilot (explanation why you are
would help)?

I'm with your friend on Track Up; the map orients itself as to the direction
one is going. For that matter, I rotate paper maps to agree with my
heading; it makes things much simpler to see what's ahead. Simplification =
better for me, especially in a cockpit.

It's just a preference thing though, neither is "right" or "wrong".

North up. Helps me know where I am for position reports. You know like
"East of airport" "south west of VOR'.

"Kai Glaesner" wrote in message
m...
Hello,

ran into a discussion with a pilot-friend-of-mine on sunday about how to
set
up our GNS430 on a short IFR Trip.

I prefer a North-Up mode, because it makes it easier for me to corelate
what's on the screen with the paper-charts I have on my kneeboard.

He wanted it to be in either Track-Up or (me complaining about a
too-frequent need for redraw) Desired-Track-Up mode. Reason was he wanted
the screen helping him to build a "mental-picture" about what's ahead and
around.

No consens was found so I would like to hear from you: are your a
"North-Up"
or a "Track-Up" sort of pilot (explanation why you are would help)?


As a student: North up.

1. Since grade-school we look at maps north-up. Perhaps also because part
of job involved geography. Knowing which direction is where when north-up
has become ingrained.
2. No twisting of charts on kneeboard to track, then twisting back to read
text. Twisting to track-up only required in those rare cases where
absolutely impossible to orient self from north-up chart. Since situational
awareness is not a problem with a GPS (right?), track-up not required at
all.
3. North-up assures instant confirmation of direction of flight on GPS. If
take a detour, (instructed or otherwise), while GPS is on short-range
display, track-up may momentarily confuse that part of situational
awareness.
4. Display tells me instantly which direction I am from airport for initial
contact with tower.
5. Reduced chance of mis-identifying runways (directions) when display in
vicinity of airport.

In spite of the fact that many, perhaps most, instructional texts for us
students tend to suggest track-up.

Somebody, convince me!

I teach track up. I would have you rotate your paper charts so they
show track up. I think its much less confusing.

-Robert, CFI

Kai,

are your a "North-Up"
or a "Track-Up" sort of pilot (explanation why you are would help)?


I'm with you - for the same reason you give. Also, the constantly
reorienting map is confusing to me. But it is really a matter of taste.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Buy a GPS. It will do this for you, you just read the position off the
GPS.

I used to be a fan of "desired track up" until, on an IFR approach, the
map unexpectedly reoriented itself to the next "desired track" up when I
activated the approach just past one of the waypoints. It was hard to
reorient myself, and I'm now a fan of track up. But one can get used to
either way.

Jose
--
Nothing takes longer than a shortcut.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

Seems to me, as a broad general proposition:

1) Consistent use of North up is better for longer-term navigation or
course planning, when you're zoomed out on the map and asking, "Where am
I in the big picture?" or "What course should I take to reach a given
(distant) destination?" (or to avoid things I should avoid).

Better chance of identifying major landmarks (lakes, mountain peaks)
correctly and understanding the broad situation.

2) Track up better for short-term maneuvering, when you're asking "What
should I be looking for, and what maneuver do I have to make, in the
next few minutes?"

I suppose optimum might be a rapid way to toggle between the two views
-- with (*very* important) some kind of obvious (and standard) visual
difference in the two views that will unmistakably clue you as to which
display mode you're in.

This argument is almost as insolvable as the "Newton or Bernoulli" or "high
vs low wing" ones. This one basically comes down to how much testosterone
you got in the womb. Male preference is for north-up while female
preference is for track-up, generally (all who are going to add how they are
an exception can save the typing - this is a gross generalization). The
argument, however is moot and pointless. Whatever works for you and keeps
you from getting lost is the way to do it. There is no "right" way no
matter what anybody tells you. It's all in how your particular brain is
configured and processes information. I used to get horribly lost following
the North-up method until I switched to Track-up. I still get lost, just
not so horribly! :-)

A humorous look at the whole thing is in a book that should be mandatory
reading for humans, "Why Men Don't Listen and Why Women Can't Read Maps".
Pick up a copy and it'll make your life a whole lot simpler, especially if
you're married!

Shawn

"Kai Glaesner" wrote in message
m...
Hello,

ran into a discussion with a pilot-friend-of-mine on sunday about how to
set
up our GNS430 on a short IFR Trip.

I prefer a North-Up mode, because it makes it easier for me to corelate
what's on the screen with the paper-charts I have on my kneeboard.

He wanted it to be in either Track-Up or (me complaining about a
too-frequent need for redraw) Desired-Track-Up mode. Reason was he wanted
the screen helping him to build a "mental-picture" about what's ahead and
around.

No consens was found so I would like to hear from you: are your a
"North-Up"
or a "Track-Up" sort of pilot (explanation why you are would help)?

Best Regards

Kai

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Return address is invalid to help stop junk mail.