Questions tagged [ifr-navigation]
Questions about navigating under Instrument Flight Rules
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How much difference in heading/bearing between consecutive legs is “officially” considered a turn?
While examining FAA's TERPS manual (Order 8260.3D) and PBN manual (Order 8260.58A), I noticed two seemingly contradictory statements.
TERPS 8260.3D Chapter 14. Departure Routes, 14-3-4 . Construct ...
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1answer
103 views
Does ATC prefer ILS over RNAV?
Listening to APP for several major (US class B) airports, it seems that every flight is vectored to intercept the localizer. Is it really possible that 100% of flights filed an ILS approach? If so, ...
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2answers
113 views
Can only victor way be used for route in cross country?
In IFR low-en route chart, there are many ways related to victor ways. Do I have to select the route for cross county? Or, Can I choose the ways between victor ways?
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1answer
68 views
Substitute Suitable RNAV system for Inop Radar on approach “requiring” Radar
Assuming my aircraft's navigation equipment is a "Qualified/Suitable RNAV System," as defined by AC 90-108, is it legal for me to fly the LDA Y Rwy 19 IAP to DCA with ATC Radar out of service?
Here ...
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2answers
59 views
What does LNAV engagement exactly mean?
I notice the term LNAV engagement being frequently mentioned in aviation related discussions or in several FAA's relevant material. Take, for example, this quote from Order 8260.58A (PBN Instrument ...
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2answers
209 views
What is the width of a high altitude airway?
Victor airways (airways that are below 18,000 ft) has a width of 8 NM. How about those airways that operates higher than 18,000 ft, do they have specific width you must be in?
Or is there no width ...
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0answers
45 views
Can I find the minimum IFR altitude based only on a SID plate?
I noticed this question here on aviation stackexchange, and I was wondering if there is a way to deduce the minimum IFR altitude (either 1000ft or 2000ft above obstacles, depending on whether or not ...
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1answer
78 views
What is the type of a SID that is neither RNAV nor RNP?
I am studying FAA's Order 8260.46F and I have noticed that, as far as the different types of SIDs are concerned, it states:
[3-5] (1) “RNAV 1” will be the default designation for RNAV DPs. Annotate ...
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3answers
502 views
What does it mean when your destination airport is currently “below IFR minimums”?
Does it mean that absolutely nobody can land there until conditions improve? Can ATC still give you an IFR clearance to your destination airport in this case?
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1answer
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What means of navigation did commercial Soviet airplanes use in the 50s-90s?
Nowadays, practically all Western commercial airplanes use some kind of GNSS/GPS as primary means of navigation, sometimes paired with inertial navigation systems and user-friendly computer interfaces ...
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2answers
2k views
What is the difference between RNAV and RNP?
What is the difference between RNAV and RNP? I know that RNAV doesn't need monitoring and alerting, but RNP does.
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0answers
137 views
What is space modulation? Its application is instrument landing systems [duplicate]
How the modulation depth changes with respect to azimuth for the Receiver of aircraft when it is using localiser or glideslope?
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0answers
42 views
IFR skywriting procedure [duplicate]
How does one file an IFR flight plan to skywrite which can be seen on a flight tracker such as flightaware?
Does one have to put in all the waypoints for the route or can it be like flight following ...
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1answer
228 views
How to select a SID during the planning stage?
During the planning stage of an IFR flight how to choose the correct SID for your route in an airport with multiple runways and multiple SIDs? and how to predict the runway you will be going to use?
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1answer
569 views
How do I fill the PBN\ part in a Flight Plan Form?
Flight Plan Form Section 10 is the "Equipment" section, where one input whatever navigation or communication equipment on board. In addition, Section 18 is the "Other information" section, where you ...
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0answers
54 views
List of desired Games for a moving platform [closed]
Our company, which develops new ideas in gaming, have developed a moving platform with 2 degrees of freedom called Cheeta.
This platform can thoroughly rotate along pitch and roll axis; thus, it gives ...
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2answers
245 views
Could a pilot navigate using distances and radials from an RNAV waypoint, similar to VOR navigation?
I know that typically RNAV navigation involves a list of waypoints, and the aircraft simply flies from one point to the next. What I'm curious about is if a procedure could be developed (as a special ...
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3answers
2k views
Is it possible for a civilian to use a VORTAC station?
Suppose you have a Cessna 208 Grand Caravan Amphibian and you want to use VORTAC stations on military bases (or somewhere else). Is it possible? Is it legal?
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1answer
1k views
What are the lateral sensitivities of GPS approaches?
What are the lateral sensitivities of each of the WAAS and LNAV approach? Is the lateral sensitivity of WAAS the same as that of the localizer, which is 3 to 6 degrees? What about the LNAV approach?
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1answer
522 views
What does a 10nm/20nm circle on instrument approach charts mean?
A lot of instrument aproach charts (VOR or ILS) have a circle around the navaid. It can be 10/20 NM or in km, like the 20km circle in the image. What does this circle mean?
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1answer
250 views
Why is there a GPS/RNAV waypoint co-located with a VOR?
There is an RNAV waypoint named STYCK co-located at what appears to be the exact location of the LOA VOR (coordinates match precisely as well). Why would the creation of a waypoint be necessary if IFR ...
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1answer
355 views
On an inverted aircraft, is the ILS glide slope sensing reversed?
If I'm halfway through a barrel roll on final descent, on an ILS, will I get reverse sensing on my glide slope indicator?
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1answer
213 views
When would these two fixes at KMEM be used?
When flying IFR into a class B airport you usually file a STAR at the end of your plan. After the last fix on the STAR you will then receive vectors from ATC to the approach for the assigned runway. ...
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1answer
1k views
Why are there GPS MOCAs?
The Pilot Controller Glossary (and other places) define MOCAs as:
MINIMUM OBSTRUCTION CLEARANCE ALTITUDE (MOCA)− The lowest published
altitude in effect between radio fixes on VOR airways, off-...
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1answer
392 views
Do GA IFR flights out of airports w/ SIDs typically use them? What about STARs?
Besides the IAPs (which as an IFR flight you're guaranteed to use unless cleared for the visual), there are the STARs and SIDs, and using them in slow GA aircraft doesn't fully make sense to me.
For ...
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2answers
647 views
How does Jeppesen create its US charts?
The Jeppesen and FAA IFR plates represent the same information in different ways. The FAA publishes its charts for free, but the underlying data that goes into the charts (e.g., exact coordinates of ...
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1answer
1k views
What's is the difference among ECL, CFL, RFL, TFL messages in ATM?
These are several messages to provide a change level during air navigation. Some are sent or requested by the pilot, others by the air traffic controllers, etc. There are subtle differences. Could ...
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1answer
436 views
Is there a roadmap to satellite / inertial only based navigation?
GNSS is the most accurate mean of navigation available on the flight deck but it relies on satellite being available and under control. Inertial systems are autonomous, but far less accurate.
...
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1answer
786 views
Why publish an unusable airway?
If an airway is marked unusable, why publish it?
Secondary question, can RNAV still be used?
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1answer
868 views
What are those 5-character alphanumeric waypoints?
On the following High IFR chart from skyvector.com I notice along the meridian at 30' intervals there is a green symbol the same shape as an RNAV waypoint. Next to them are 5-digit identifiers, but it ...
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0answers
173 views
Why do IFR reporting points have odd names? [duplicate]
I was checking out some flights on FlightAware and went onto the "Route" page for a flight and I saw these IFR Reporting Points with really odd names. Is there a regulatory reason why they have such ...
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2answers
3k views
What is the difference between fixes and waypoints on an arrival plate?
This is a followup to my other question on this topic. Figured I'd just make it a whole separate question.
The plates below show STAR arrivals to KMEM. The points along the route are marked with two ...
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9answers
3k views
Can you fly a glider in a cloud on primary instruments?
Assume you enter a cloud with no visibility of the horizon. Your glider is not equipped with an artificial horizon, turn speed indicator or the like.
You must fly within safe limits, using air speed, ...
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1answer
283 views
Can a view limiting device be used in an aircraft requiring two pilots?
Can a pilot use a VLD for IFR currency if the aircraft requires two pilots? Can it be used while carrying passengers? If so, is this ever done?
I'm thinking of part 121 airline pilots under FAA.
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1answer
456 views
When an alternate minimum applies, does it change MDA or DA?
In US, the weather minimums for an alternate airport are typically 600-2 for precision approaches and 800-2 for non-precision approaches at ETA, unless otherwise specified at US Terminal Procedure ...
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2answers
180 views
Does an amended shortcut clearance change the clearance limit?
A typical IFR cleared route is like,
KABC VOR1 V12 VOR2 V23 VOR3 V34 VOR4 KXYZ
Suppose the verbal ATC clearance is "N7890, you are cleared to KXYZ airport, KABC.ZYBUD departure, radar vector VOR1, ...
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2answers
516 views
Why does this Garmin GMA340 have an Airway/Inner marker indicator?
On this Garmin GMA 340:
the outer marker is blue and is designated O
the middle mark is amber and is designated M
the inner marker is white and is designated A and placed on the far left.
I looked ...
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1answer
1k views
What exactly is tower enroute control? Is this similar to 'preferred routes'?
I am reading about 'Tower Enroute Control' and I saw this on wikipedia "Tower en-route control is a collection of published low-altitude, short-distance IFR routes through large metropolitan areas ...
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1answer
597 views
Does altimeter setting affect the vertical guidance in a LPV approach?
I had assumed during a WAAS approach when the GPS is in LPV mode, both lateral guidance and vertical guidance are generated from GPS/WAAS signals and the pitot-static system should have no effect on ...
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1answer
533 views
Is a VHF NAV receiver inherently capable of processing a LOC signal?
These last few weeks I have been flying a couple of different aircraft that had inoperative glideslope capabilities, but I was able to fly LOC approaches without trouble. In my career as a pilot and ...
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2answers
4k views
What visibility and cloud clearances are required for airplanes conducting visual approaches?
What visibility and cloud clearances are required for airplanes conducting visual approaches during IFR while flying under FAA regulations? Is the visual approach a purely VFR maneuver requiring the ...
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1answer
423 views
Is it practical to descend in a lost communication scenario?
This is a follow-up to my previous question here -
Lost radio communication after take-off in IMC - what are my options?.
Please refer to that to understand the scenario of this question.
If, for ...
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1answer
1k views
Where can I download the coordinates of navigation fixes/intersections? [duplicate]
Is there an exportable public database that I may get a copy of all navigational fixes and their corresponding GPS coordinates (latitude, longitude)?
p.s. Only US airspace navigation fix information ...
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3answers
587 views
What is the primary means of IFR navigation for private pilots?
I have been doing a lot of reading into IFR navigation, and have been looking at the various instruments and systems that are used. I am going to exclude GPS here, as I have been focussing on some of ...
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1answer
1k views
What are the meanings of these terms related to instrument flight?
Please describe and define the following terms:
Homing
0 degree relative bearing
Tracking
Hold
Entry
Holding pattern
What are its uses and purposes?
Any one to suggest a thorough instrument book as ...
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2answers
329 views
Where can I get IFR charts for throughout the world?
(Note this question asks about VFR charts.)
In the U.S, I can get IFR navigation charts from Aeronav or Jeppesen.
Do IFR charts exist worldwide? If so, where can I go for charts of other countries? (...
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1answer
304 views
How am I supposed to track to KOSAX on the OLIVI 4W out of EDFM?
The SID chart for Mannheim, Germany (EDFM) runway 27 has segments to OLIVI are not defined in terms of any navigational aids but simply specify a track.
How am I supposed to fly these accurately? And ...
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1answer
327 views
Approximately what percentage of aircraft are equipped with RNAV?
I was hoping someone could provide me with an estimate of what percentage of aircraft are equipped for RNAV (Area Navigation). I'm more interested in commercial aircraft, but business and general ...
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1answer
682 views
How are there some Victor airways that exceed the service area of the VORs they are identified by?
As you can see here, V267 has a length of 149nm, is defined by the Craig VOR (CRG) and the Dublin VOR (DBN) and has a MEA of 3000. According to the AIM, the Service volumes of VORs never reach more ...
