more bitching about the IFR written - CDI left/right versus north/south/etc

There are a whole bunch of useless questions that you just have to get
through. Like the one where you have to pick which aircraft corresponds
to the given CDI indications. Who cares where the aircraft is. You will
no longer be there by the time you blink. What matters most is which
direction you have to turn to. Unfortunately, not only does the FAA
teach this contorted method of CDI interpretation, the majority of CFI's
also teach this way, and many are not even aware that there is a simpler
way. I wrote an article about this and sent it to a few magazines, and
it was turned down because they thought that this method was too
'controversial'. You can see my article at
http://www.geocities.com/asarangan/aviation.html



"G. Sylvester" wrote in news:Bi5Dd.8613
:

A month or two ago there was a thread about CDI indicating north/south
vs. left/right in particular on front course and back course LOC.
I'm studying for the IFR written and not in a single place
does the FAA use north/south. Again I'm banging my head
wondering does a lowly IFR student like me have to scream
learn the wrong way. Further they have questions about MLS
approaches?
Has anyone ever flown one or even seen one? I don't
even know what equipment is required for one. A historical
note about this, the founders of the company I work for
were (partial?) inventers of the MLS back in I think the 1940's
or early 50's. One of the brothers (Sig Varian, I think) was a
pilot for a major but ended up biting it while
landing in Mexico at night. He intended to land on
the beach but ended up putting it in the drink.

The same bitching goes to the lack of reference to technology.
I really can't imagine hand flying in the soup, thunderstorms
around, turbulence, at night, etc. and playing around with
an E6B. Umm, how long does a leg take, ummm, give me
2 seconds and the 430 will take care of that. Of course
double check the 430 but an E6B is a bit out dated. It works
and works without batteries but if things are that bad
all around, the last thing I'm doing. If hells breaks loose
and needed to use one, I think I'd declare an emergency over
121.5.

sorry to vent.....and no need to remind me how the FAA
is screwed up. Overall though I gotta give them a LOT
of credit as it seems like one of the few big government
agencies that has it reasonably together.

Gerald Sylvester