Moving Map: North-Up vs. Track-Up

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.


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Peter
























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On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 15:17:05 GMT, Jose
wrote:

But one can get used to
either way.

Yes, I think so. My sectional is always north up, and it doesn't
bother me in the slightest when I fly south. But my GPS is track-up,
because that's the way it came from the factory. It seems perfectly
natural to me.

Of course, in the Cub I have never noticed much sudden redrawing

I even think there may be an advantage to having the sectional
oriented one way and the Garmin another way. It reminds me that the
sectional is real, and that the Garmin might be in error, the way it
was when it moved Hampton NH airport to the Andes. I have not fully
recovered from that particular betrayal.



-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
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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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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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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.

I have the 89/B and I do the same as Doug.

Regards, Ross
C-172F 180HP
KSWI


Doug wrote:
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.

Jeez, John, you must be pretty thick. I wasn't talking out of my ass. I
quoted my reference in my original post. It's a book called "Why Men Don't
Listen and Why Women Can't Read Maps" by Allan and Barbara Pease. You can
find it for sale on Amazon.com but I couldn't find a home page for the
Peases. Pick it up. It's a good read and makes a lot of sense.

Shawn

"JohnH" wrote in message
...
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.

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?


from the book mentioned:

*****************
In 1998, John and Ashley Sims created a two-way map of England. It had a
standard view for people travelling north and an upside-down view for
people travelling south. When men heard about it, they tended to laugh,
thinking it was a joke. Women said: "What a great idea!"

A British newspaper offered 100 maps free. It received requests from
15,000 women - and a handful of men. Yes, we're different all right.
*****************

found he

http://www.associateprograms.com/sea...etter032.shtml

I will not be held responsible for the scientific value and correctness
of the statement :-)

Personally, I use north-up on my car navigation most of the time (I'm
not a pilot). But when approaching junctions, the system switches to
track-up (and zooms in) automatically, and I find that very useful.

To me it seems that for the "big picture" north-up is more helpful,
while for locating yourself in the close surroundings, track-up might
even make it easier for men :-)

regards,
Friedrich

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