Garmin 296

"RjL" wrote in message


Geez - what could be simpler than tracking an airway by VOR navigation? Is
following the little magenta line really easier than "needle left, fly
left"

Portable GPS can back up but not replace a VOR receiver on airways.

However, yes, a backup GPS can make things quite a bit easier at times.
One example is when you are close to the VOR station and the VOR needle is
highly sensitive. Another example is to help establish a crab angle when
flying an airway with a signficant crosswind aloft. Yet another example is
for situational awareness with respect to weather or alternate landing
sites. There are dozens more ways a portable GPS can be quite helpful to
an IFR pilot as a backup navigational device.


--------------------
Richard Kaplan

www.flyimc.com

Richard Kaplan wrote:
Another example is to help establish a crab angle when
flying an airway with a signficant crosswind aloft.

Richard, I need you to explain this statement.

VOR doesn't care what heading the airplane is flying, so how does the
crab angle affect the track if you are keeping the needles centered? You
simply adjust your crab angle right or left to maintain the track, correct?

"john smith" wrote in message
.. .
Richard Kaplan wrote:
Another example is to help establish a crab angle when
flying an airway with a signficant crosswind aloft.

Richard, I need you to explain this statement.

VOR doesn't care what heading the airplane is flying, so how does the
crab angle affect the track if you are keeping the needles centered? You
simply adjust your crab angle right or left to maintain the track,
correct?

I use my Pilot III or the panel mounted VFR GPS for this purpose, also. Get
the needle centered. Get a heading that makes my track equal the VOR radial
I want. Done. Double check every x minutes as needed. Handy on approaches,
too. Don't even have to have a way-point in the box. Just look at the
current ground track.

Although, I'm starting to get spoiled. Hafta declare an emergency if my GPS
goes out....

"john smith" wrote in message

VOR doesn't care what heading the airplane is flying, so how does the crab
angle affect the track if you are keeping the needles centered? You simply
adjust your crab angle right or left to maintain the track, correct?

Yes, that is how you do it with only a VOR receiver. It is somewhat a
matter of trial and error to determine the proper crab angle and that crab
angle will change if the winds aloft change.

However, if you have a portable GPS with a simulated HSI such as the Garmin
296, it makes the process of determining and modifying crab angles almost
automatic. The electronic HSI on a Garmin 296 knows only your track and not
your actual heading. So if you set the "heading" on the electronic HSI to
the desired course, you will actually be establishing whatever crab angle is
needed to maintain the desired course. This greatly simplifies the workload
of navigating with a crosswind.

--------------------
Richard Kaplan

www.flyimc.com