Moving Map: North-Up vs. Track-Up

"Robert M. Gary" writes:

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

And it prevents boredom in holds.

--kyler

Kai Glaesner wrote:

Reason was he wanted
the screen helping him to build a "mental-picture" about what's ahead and
around.

Track up.

I have both NEXRAD (actually WSI's NOWRAD) and traffic displayed on an
MX20. Combine these two with projected GPS course line and predicted
actual track while flying an IFR approach and IME track up provides a much
more intuitive situational picture.

I do not have to perform mental gymnastics of flipping the picture in my
head when scanning the MX20 during the approach.

--
Peter
























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ShawnD2112 wrote:

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).

Gross generalization or not, where did you get this theory? I suppose you
don't have an Internet reference to educate those of us equipped with an
apparent female preference, eh?

--
Peter
























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AES wrote:
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?"

Excellent analysis. This is why I use both sectional/Low Alt chart and GPS.
I always fold the map(s) to a reasonable sized rectangle to get the big
picture enroute, alwyas North Up. The GPS is Track Up but a much smaller
area than the sectiona and/or Low Alt. chart. I can always tilt the chart
as needed if I want a track relative view, no biggie.

Situational awareness is the key... whatever works go for it. But I never
fly without charts, even though I do love the GPS, I still follow my progress
on the chart.

kontiki wrote:

But I never
fly without charts, even though I do love the GPS, I still follow my progress
on the chart.

I agree. During a series of very long flights across the US, I found the
VFR WACs extremely valuable in assisting with actual fuel consumption as
well as the usual array of valuables the charts offer.

Flying west across the US last May, I often received direct to a waypoint
(always VORs) that was one-to-many waypoints deep into my flight plan.
This would "cut a corner or two" off my flight plan, saving me a few
minutes, but it always threw off my planned fuel usage.

Due to the length of each flight, it was important to me to compare actual
to planned fuel usage at each waypoint. Using the WACs, I was able to
create a virtual waypoint directly along my new course that approximated
the skipped VOR.

As I crossed this virtual waypoint (defined by a radial off the skipped
VOR), I would note it in the flight log and then compare actual to planned
fuel usage.


--
Peter
























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Erm, He's talking about the Garmin-430 GPS....

"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
oups.com...
Buy a GPS. It will do this for you, you just read the position off the
GPS.

Robert M. Gary wrote:
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


funny how this topic keeps coming back; it seems that it depends
on how your brain is wired and that is not much you can do change
someone's mind about that; for me, north up is much less confusing
than having to twist the chart around, even if the chart does the
twisting for me (and change the orientation of the labels) as would
a GPS moving map display do because I do the twisting in
my head anyway, looking at a chart / display with track up forces
me to do a 'double twisting' of sort if you see what I mean :-)
Reminds me of endless hours of fun (i.e., arguments) while driving
around the country with an *ex* girlfriend of mine... :-)

--Sylvain

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

You wouldn't have been my instructor for long.

George Patterson
Why do men's hearts beat faster, knees get weak, throats become dry,
and they think irrationally when a woman wears leather clothing?
Because she smells like a new truck.

Peter R. wrote:
ShawnD2112 wrote:

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).

Gross generalization or not, where did you get this theory? I
suppose you don't have an Internet reference to educate those of us
equipped with an apparent female preference, eh?

I doubt he can supply a link to his theory source unless his ass has an IP
connection.

I went to track up because if I loose vacuum, all I need to do is keep
the line pointed straight up in the GPS screen, and I am not turning.
Also, my unit, a KLN90B favors track up. I don't get an "airplane" icon
in the other track postions (I get a diamond).

But seriously, you can use the track up line as a poor man's localizer
needle. Try it and see.