Noob navigation question
Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 11:45 amHey guys, whats the difference between the "Course" and "Heading" setting in the auto pilot? Arent they the same thing?
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Noob navigation question
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Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 11:45 amRe: Noob navigation question
Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 12:06 pmHeading is the direction your nose is pointed, and your course is the direction you're actually traveling, which can be different from your heading due to wind.
Re: Noob navigation question
Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 12:32 pmThat's correct, almost. The five "directions" pilots deal with are: Heading, Course, Track, Bearing & Relative Bearing.
Most simple definitions are:
Heading:
Most simple definitions are:
Heading:
Re: Noob navigation question
Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 9:19 amThat's also correct, almost.
'Course' and 'Heading' do indeed have the definitions listed above- however for the autopilot they refer to two different modes to operate the autopilot in.
Heading: When the heading switch is engaged, the autopilot will point the nose of the aircraft to the magnetic heading selected and keep it there, flying in that direction. As mentioned above, you're ground track may very well not be straight in this direction due to winds aloft (but as a pilot, you get to learn to deal with wind correction). When you're flying IFR in FS and are receiving vectors from ATC, Heading is the mode you want to be in- when ATC says "turn left to 315", simply dial in 315. (ATC then gets to worry about wind correction- for you it's just dial what they say and go).
Course: Course is for using the autopilot with VOR navigation. Dial the desired VOR freq into NAV1, select the desired VOR radial for your course, and engage the Course switch. The autopilot will turn the aircraft until it intercepts the selected radial, and then it will fly that radial to or from the VOR. It will fly you along that radial regardless of what the winds aloft are doing, adding any necessary wind corrections. When ATC tells you "resume own navigation", you're free to use the Course mode to get you to/from VORs. When flying an ILS, it is not necessary to dial the runway course- but it is strongly recommended as it gives you a visual aid to follow.
On an HSI, the Heading is selected by the position of the heading bug- turn the heading bug knob to select it. The course is selected by the Course Indicator knob- which does the same thing as the Omni Bearing Selector on a conventional VOR dial.
Help at all?
'Course' and 'Heading' do indeed have the definitions listed above- however for the autopilot they refer to two different modes to operate the autopilot in.
Heading: When the heading switch is engaged, the autopilot will point the nose of the aircraft to the magnetic heading selected and keep it there, flying in that direction. As mentioned above, you're ground track may very well not be straight in this direction due to winds aloft (but as a pilot, you get to learn to deal with wind correction). When you're flying IFR in FS and are receiving vectors from ATC, Heading is the mode you want to be in- when ATC says "turn left to 315", simply dial in 315. (ATC then gets to worry about wind correction- for you it's just dial what they say and go).
Course: Course is for using the autopilot with VOR navigation. Dial the desired VOR freq into NAV1, select the desired VOR radial for your course, and engage the Course switch. The autopilot will turn the aircraft until it intercepts the selected radial, and then it will fly that radial to or from the VOR. It will fly you along that radial regardless of what the winds aloft are doing, adding any necessary wind corrections. When ATC tells you "resume own navigation", you're free to use the Course mode to get you to/from VORs. When flying an ILS, it is not necessary to dial the runway course- but it is strongly recommended as it gives you a visual aid to follow.
On an HSI, the Heading is selected by the position of the heading bug- turn the heading bug knob to select it. The course is selected by the Course Indicator knob- which does the same thing as the Omni Bearing Selector on a conventional VOR dial.
Help at all?
Re: Noob navigation question
Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 11:25 amAwesome explanations! Thanks