User Guide

Learning To Fly with Rod Machado
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Obviously, the 030-degree course is not to the left of Airplane A; the course is ahead of the airplane.
But if you turn the airplane to the direction of the selected course (030 degrees), then the needle and
the flag properly orient you to that course as shown by Airplane B. Now, and only now, can the
needle be said to tell you that the selected course is physically to the left of the airplane. The TO/
FROM flag tells you that once you’re on the course and heading in a direction of 030 degrees, you’ll be
going directly to the VOR station (we’ll assume there’s no wind to blow you off course in this
example). Let’s try this part in flight.
Choose Tutorial 9, Situation 3. In this example, I’ll place you over the airport, heading 240 degrees
(there’s really no airport down there so don’t try to find it). I’ve set your navigation radio to the VOR
frequency. Before beginning the simulation, select the
030-degree course with the OBS. Then, as soon as the
simulation begins, turn to a heading of 030 degrees. I’ve
also disconnected the autopilot for this simulation.
Ready? Go ahead and press P to begin the simulation.
When you’re established on a heading of 030 degrees,
press P to pause the simulation.
Looking back at Figure 8, Airplane B must turn to the left
to intercept the 030-degree course. How many degrees
to the left should it turn? The answer is, more than 0
degrees and less than 90 degrees. It all depends on how
fast you want to intercept. For practical purposes, if the
VOR needle is fully deflected, you won’t necessarily
know if the selected course is 1 mile away or 100 miles
away. In these situations, your objective should be to get
on the course as quickly as possible; therefore, intercept
at a 90-degree angle. Ask yourself what heading is 90
degrees to the left of 030 degrees. Just look at the
compass and count 90 degrees to the left of the
selected course as shown in Figure 9. Flying a heading
of 300 degrees (this is perpendicular to the selected
course), allows you to intercept in the shortest time, as shown by Airplane C in Figure 8.
Airplane C in Figure 8 should plan to turn back to 030 degrees (the direction of the selected course)
as it intercepts the course. A precisely completed interception is shown by Airplane D. Notice how
the VOR needle of Airplane D centers as the airplane heads 030 degrees (the selected course
direction). Don’t worry if you can’t do this precisely at first. How quickly the needle centers depends
on how close you are to the station. A little bit of experience will teach you to estimate the rate at
which the needle approaches the center, and how soon to begin your turn on the course heading.
Figure 9
TO