Waypoints
10-14-2008, 06:28 PM
#2
Line Holder
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Position: C-17
Posts: 69
Depends where you guy. Most of the time overseas you fly each waypoint, or if there is not traffic in the controllers sector, he will clear you direct to the last point in his area. I guess it really just depends on what you are doing. Crossing the NAT's you always fly your points.
10-15-2008, 12:39 AM
#3
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Aug 2008
Posts: 12
hi moose. sorry i wasn't clear in my question. what i meant was do the pilots/copilots keep track of each waypoint they are flying to? like watching as eash waypoint is reached and seeing the distance count down, the time to each one and noticing if each one is reached on time. using the info in the MFDs and charts.
thanks again for the reply.
william
thanks again for the reply.
william
10-15-2008, 06:27 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Position: CL-65 F/O
Posts: 265
I'm still not sure I understand the question. If a waypoint is on my flight plan, then yes I track it and make sure I go to that waypoint and I watch the distance and time go down as I get closer.
Example:
KATL
GEETK
VUZ
MEM
TIGGO
BITTY
KLAX
Taking off from Atlanta, the first waypoint on my flight plan may be GEETK, and that controller at some point (while on a heading after departure) say "Okay Air Shuttle, proceed direct to GEETK intersection and then resume own navigation" Meaning I'll turn to GEETK, and then once I reach GEETK I'll proceed directly to the Vulcan VOR (or whatever is next on my flight plan). While sometime enroute on the GEETK-VUZ leg, the controller may not have much traffic ahead so he could say "Air Shuttle cleared direct to TIGGO," meaning I will bypass VUZ and MEM and go directly to TIGGO where I will watch the distance and time go down as I get closer. They do this for shortcuts for us to save time and gas, or because we bug the hell out of them sometime for shortcuts (most of the time because I'm always late! haha).
Does this help you out at all, or was I just completely talking non-related nonsense?
Example:
KATL
GEETK
VUZ
MEM
TIGGO
BITTY
KLAX
Taking off from Atlanta, the first waypoint on my flight plan may be GEETK, and that controller at some point (while on a heading after departure) say "Okay Air Shuttle, proceed direct to GEETK intersection and then resume own navigation" Meaning I'll turn to GEETK, and then once I reach GEETK I'll proceed directly to the Vulcan VOR (or whatever is next on my flight plan). While sometime enroute on the GEETK-VUZ leg, the controller may not have much traffic ahead so he could say "Air Shuttle cleared direct to TIGGO," meaning I will bypass VUZ and MEM and go directly to TIGGO where I will watch the distance and time go down as I get closer. They do this for shortcuts for us to save time and gas, or because we bug the hell out of them sometime for shortcuts (most of the time because I'm always late! haha).
Does this help you out at all, or was I just completely talking non-related nonsense?
10-15-2008, 06:43 AM
#5
Super Moderator
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,945
I enter all the waypoints into the FMS and watch them come and go on the MFD (multi function display). I do not tune VORs since the FMS operates using VOR and GPS combined for accuracy. I do obviously pay attention and confirm that the plan drawn up on the MFD makes sense and it is tracking appropriately.
If it is a new route I have never flown or do not have more or less memorized I pull out the trust enroute and verify that the points given and points entered make sense on the chart.
Trust but verify is key.
If it is a new route I have never flown or do not have more or less memorized I pull out the trust enroute and verify that the points given and points entered make sense on the chart.
Trust but verify is key.
10-15-2008, 03:49 PM
#6
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Aug 2008
Posts: 12
hi dublin, yea that's exactly what i wanted to know. sorry if it came out like a stupid obvious question. that's interesting about ATC letting you skip a waypoint but it does make sense.
when i'm flying a flight in the sim i do track some waypoints but tend to get lazy sometimes and don't track them all until i come up to 100 miles or so from my destination then i'm tracking like a hawk.
i'll start paying closer attention and thanks very much.
william
when i'm flying a flight in the sim i do track some waypoints but tend to get lazy sometimes and don't track them all until i come up to 100 miles or so from my destination then i'm tracking like a hawk.
i'll start paying closer attention and thanks very much.
william
10-15-2008, 03:53 PM
#7
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Aug 2008
Posts: 12
thanks usmc. i don't have any charts and the airports where i live don't have any IFR/enroute high altitude charts so i'll probably have to order some. i do have a kick ass GPS in the sim i just bought the other day. i really want the charts too though and will get some. thanks again man,
william
william
10-16-2008, 02:42 PM
#10
Super Moderator
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,945
Short answer for flight training and real world ops:
You track every radial and to every VOR or to every waypoint that is issued to you in your flight plan when you are given your clearance. The only real exceptions are when you hear "cleared direct XXXX" which will typically bypass a point or two or if you hear "after XXXX direct XXXXX" Sometimes ATC will tell you to fly direct to your current point or the next and then will more or less delete a few points after that amending your clearance which in essence becomes your new clearance.
You track every radial and to every VOR or to every waypoint that is issued to you in your flight plan when you are given your clearance. The only real exceptions are when you hear "cleared direct XXXX" which will typically bypass a point or two or if you hear "after XXXX direct XXXXX" Sometimes ATC will tell you to fly direct to your current point or the next and then will more or less delete a few points after that amending your clearance which in essence becomes your new clearance.
