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Being the slow learner that I am, and being one who is not particularly inclined to revisit certain assumptions I have made, it came as a particular surprise when I decided to tackle the issue of aeronautical navigation.
Now, I am perfectly aware of the existence of GPS navigation. Only recently, I have taken the plunge and so discovered the wonders of automobile GPS navigation. It is particularly pleasing realizing that chances have been significantly diminished that I will become hopelessly lost on this particular island that I call home. Don't laugh, this is a big island. I know full well that life on an island means that sooner or later one will become wet, one way or another. But as I've said, never underestimate my ability to bollix up directions and mis-read maps and the like. When one combines navigation expertise such as mine with things that fly, opportunities to become lost multiply exponentially, and suddenly any comfort that one drew from island living in terms of remaining dry dissolve completely.
So, knowing of my predilection for turning left when I should have turned right, and of my affection for anything requiring the use of my beloved PC, my interest in navigation was awakened while I was doing some beta work for Dave March's program, ProFlight Emulator. This is a wonderful ATC program that, much to my dismay, presumes a certain level of familiarity with aviation navigation. And not the "girly-man" GPS navigation, either. Oh no, this program was suddenly telling me to do things with VOR's that I didn't know were possible, or for all I knew, legal. The first time I was told to "Fly heading one-two-zero to intercept the Echo Bravo Alpha one-eight-zero radial outbound", I found a sudden need for something cold and carbonated, and promptly paused my flight and scratched that itch, all the while pretending that I wasn't completely intimidated by what I'd just heard.
Hey, I'm an "experienced" flight sim pilot. Dare I say a "serious" sim pilot? And much to my dismay, I was an experienced and serious sim pilot with his tail firmly between his legs, laughing nervously and wondering what in hell I was supposed to do with what I'd just heard.
Did you know that Flight Simulator is really, really good at simulating flights using only the navigation tools? You know, tuning to VOR frequencies with the Nav radios? I thought they were just for tuning to certain frequencies to get doors to open and jetways to move. Who knew you could use them for navigation!?
Of course, knowing of this capability does little to assist one in taking advantage of such knowledge. I mean, I know that using an oxy-acetylene torch appropriately will result in two pieces of metal sticking to one another. Beyond that, nada. So, where does one go in order to get a handle on navigation?
I think we may dispense with the "Look into the Help menu of FS2004" type of response that is likely even now being echoed across the globe (a little bit of wishful thinking on my part, I admit it). You know it's there, I know it's there. And I've also heard by a number of sources that the instructions provided by Microsoft are about as clear as their instructions on how to modify your computer's registry. So rather than go there, become thoroughly disgusted and frustrated and likely to find my entertainment elsewhere, I decided to use the old Google Search.
There is a ton of free stuff to assist one in learning VOR navigation. Unfortunately, they mostly all presuppose a certain level of familiarity with the subject. So I decided that I'd try something completely new and most unlike me (I think The Boss may read this...), and find some payware that would suit my needs. And, don'tcha know, I found something!
One of the really neat things about our hobby is the people you meet who are more than willing to help with questions relating to our hobby. In this regard, I would be seriously remiss if I were not to mention my friend, Ray Lunning. Ray is a pilot, a flight sim hobbyist and one of the "good ones" of our hobby, who has taken me under his wing with my newfound fascination with "real" navigation. He was kind enough to send me a couple of real Jeppesen Low Altitude Enroute charts. The real stuff!
Of course, I've yet to spend any coin on this, and as that is completely distasteful, I continued my search until I came upon this company: Aviation Tutorials.
The Aviation Tutorials Company of Franklin, Wisconsin, is owned and managed by Steve McNeilly. Now, I won't kid you about this. His products will set you back some greenbacks, even by my standards. So, with hope in my heart, I sent Steve an email explaining who I am and what I hope to accomplish (that being not only an education in navigation, but material for an article or two and the ability to better appreciate and use any ATC program/instructions), and to see if he'd send me a complimentary copy of The Navigation CD-ROM. Much to my surprise and delight, Steve sent me not only that, but VOR/NDB Simulator, Getting Around on the Ground and Weather Statement Groundschool too! Wow!
So, being armed with charts from Ray and educational material from Steve, I am starting off on my quest to become an even more informed, experienced and serious sim pilot. I thought perhaps you may wish to tag along. But understand, I am hardly the one to give you even a primer on VOR navigation, and that is not my purpose here. What I'd like to do is point the way, and highlight some really outstanding educational materials.
This is the opening window of Steve's The Navigation CD-ROM. This program took me, step by step, on a journey through VOR navigation. As you can see, I've barely scratched the surface of the material, as there are several other sections that I've yet to explore.
Here is the opening window of the VOR section:
Everything I need to know regarding VOR navigation is right here before me. It was here that I started to realize just how big a bite I'd bitten off... I'm telling you, those real world flyboys are SMART!
Now, here's a cool part. On the screen below, you'll see the intro that describes a VOR. Not only can you read the information provided on the left, but there is a terribly professional and proper teacher reading it to you, as well. I don't know about you, but I've always learned best when I could listen to a teacher, and then read what was just described. The directions and descriptions are not complex, and presented in a basic and very palatable manner.
You will, on occasion, be quizzed to be certain you are up to speed on important aspects of the subject:
These pictures do not do the program justice. The graphics are sharp, clear and easy for my old and goopy eyes to read. Notice here I am being forced to think clearly and answer a question in order to proceed with the tutorial.
This simply demonstrates how it is possible with Steve's program to learn VOR Navigation. But, there is more to than just learning it. In order to become proficient, this skill must be practiced! Believe me, there is nothing worse than believing erroneously that one knows where one is, when in fact one does not, especially when one is becoming short on avgas and suitable places to land.
So, here's another neat program from Steve, VOR/NDB Simulator.
With this program, you can practice your new found skills with a variety of instruments, aircraft and wind conditions.
This is the set-up page, at which you select the instruments with which you'd like to practice. As with all of Steve's programs, there are instructions that are in both text and audio format:
On this screen, you manipulate the aircraft and/or the VOR/NDB combo, and see how the motion impacts your navigational instruments. Options include randomizing the position of your aircraft, its heading, position of the navaids and winds. This gives you the ability to set up an endless variety of scenarios with which to practice your navigation skills. You may notice a checkbox entitled ADF Interference. It is impossible to show this in a static picture, but when enabled, the ADF needle (the upper gauge, which is movable with a click/drag on the "DRAG" area) actually bounces around within a 10 degree arc, nicely simulating interference. Sweet!
There is a very comprehensive set of instructions detailing the use of the simulator. It is very easy to use, and with it I have been recreating situations I have encountered during my FS flights. Certainly, the information passed on to you is invaluable for those who wish to cruise VATSIM or any other "live" ATC environment. Using an ATC program, I was told to "Turn left heading three zero zero to join the zero six five radial inbound to Mike X-Ray Echo, resume own navigation". To which I replied, "Um, sure". It was about that time that I decided I'd best take this navigation stuff a little bit more seriously, once I finish my ubiquitous sandwich and Molson.
While it may be true that we sim pilots are in fact merely "sim pilots" and not "real" pilots, this does not mean that our love of aviation burns any less bright. In our zeal to learn what we can, we've a ton of options regarding just how overboard we'd care to go. As any hobbyist would, I take my FSHobby seriously and dedicate much of my time not just flying the "game", but also learning as much as I can about aviation in general. Why? I have not a clue, other than I like doing it. I can honestly say that once away from my PC, I'll likely never ever need to apply my newfound knowledge of VOR navigation. I don't think, though, that this makes my desire to learn all about it any less valid than, say, my desire to learn all about how to drive safely. The former is simply a thirst for knowledge, the latter a real necessity for survival. For the "real" pilot, navigation is a necessity. We both seek the same education, but with different motivations. The motivation may be different, but the desire is the same.
And that, my dearest Boss, is why we've maxed out on our third Visa card, and for God's sake, don't throw that computer out the window!
Three Green!
Chip Barber
rfbarber2@verizon.net
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