GNS430W: Parallel offset course feature

Just picked up my aircraft with the GNS430W upgrade and was reading the
manual to see what new features are now included. In there I discovered the
feature that allows the pilot to purposely fly a parallel offset course
anywhere from 1 to 99 miles. The only tedious characteristic of this feature
(IMO) is that the pilot must set this option every time a flight plan is
activated, rather than having the option "stick" across flights. Thus, over
time it seems to me a pilot may eventually opt to not set it.

Anyone use this feature? I am curious about its popularity.

--
Peter

That parallel offset feature has been on every GPS I've had. Thought I
read somewhere it was required for IFR boxes. The Mid Continent CDI's
have a light on the face when you are flying an offset. Never used that
feature, don't know why i ever would.



Peter R. wrote:

Just picked up my aircraft with the GNS430W upgrade and was reading the
manual to see what new features are now included. In there I discovered the
feature that allows the pilot to purposely fly a parallel offset course
anywhere from 1 to 99 miles. The only tedious characteristic of this feature
(IMO) is that the pilot must set this option every time a flight plan is
activated, rather than having the option "stick" across flights. Thus, over
time it seems to me a pilot may eventually opt to not set it.

Anyone use this feature? I am curious about its popularity.

"Newps" wrote in message
. ..
That parallel offset feature has been on every GPS I've had. Thought I
read somewhere it was required for IFR boxes. The Mid Continent CDI's
have a light on the face when you are flying an offset. Never used that
feature, don't know why i ever would.


Because you don't know how to fly outside the box!

Sorry!

On 9/7/2007 12:07:03 AM, Newps wrote:

That parallel offset feature has been on every GPS I've had.

I thought I read the original GNS430 manual pretty well, but if that feature
was in the original box I missed it.

--
Peter

Peter,

but if that feature
was in the original box


It wasn't. W only.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Peter R. wrote:
On 9/7/2007 12:07:03 AM, Newps wrote:


That parallel offset feature has been on every GPS I've had.


I thought I read the original GNS430 manual pretty well, but if that feature
was in the original box I missed it.

No, you didn't miss anything. The 129 400/500s did not have track offset.

In article ,
"Peter R." wrote:

Just picked up my aircraft with the GNS430W upgrade and was reading the
manual to see what new features are now included. In there I discovered the
feature that allows the pilot to purposely fly a parallel offset course
anywhere from 1 to 99 miles. The only tedious characteristic of this feature
(IMO) is that the pilot must set this option every time a flight plan is
activated, rather than having the option "stick" across flights. Thus, over
time it seems to me a pilot may eventually opt to not set it.

Anyone use this feature? I am curious about its popularity.

It's mostly used by people flying SAR missions. You keep increasing the
offset and end up flying a box pattern.

I once used it to find a visual reporting point. I was coming back to HPN
from the north at night and ATC said "direct to the Tappan Zee Bridge". I
don't have the bridge as a waypoint, and I didn't have it in sight. But I
do know it's about 5 miles west of the airport, so I just threw in a 5 mile
offset and got the box tracking to a point roughly where the bridge is.

On 9/7/2007 7:58:56 AM, Roy Smith wrote:

It's mostly used by people flying SAR missions. You keep increasing the
offset and end up flying a box pattern.

Ah, OK. I had read about trans-Atlantic flights using an offset and assumed
it was available in these WAAS boxes given their extreme accuracy and the
increased chances of mid-airs on climb-outs and descents.

--
Peter

Peter R. wrote:

On 9/7/2007 7:58:56 AM, Roy Smith wrote:


It's mostly used by people flying SAR missions. You keep increasing the
offset and end up flying a box pattern.


Ah, OK. I had read about trans-Atlantic flights using an offset and assumed
it was available in these WAAS boxes given their extreme accuracy and the
increased chances of mid-airs on climb-outs and descents.

It would be nice to use it on Victor airways, had they only offered
offests in 1/10 mile increments.

On Fri, 07 Sep 2007 08:11:19 -0700, B wrote:

Peter R. wrote:

On 9/7/2007 7:58:56 AM, Roy Smith wrote:


It's mostly used by people flying SAR missions. You keep increasing the
offset and end up flying a box pattern.


Ah, OK. I had read about trans-Atlantic flights using an offset and assumed
it was available in these WAAS boxes given their extreme accuracy and the
increased chances of mid-airs on climb-outs and descents.

It would be nice to use it on Victor airways, had they only offered
offests in 1/10 mile increments.

It would be nice to have victor airways in the box....