Intersections; what are they for and how do we...?

[GeneticA]

Hello, its me again, asking lots of questions these days

This one is about intersections.

Yesterday I made a flight plan from UMMM to LUBL (I don't remember what are the names of the airports). I selected VOR to VOR as I was planning to practice VOR navigation. FS plotted the route and gave me the VORs and the intersections I had to pass through, I noted them down and started my flight.
I fly towards the first point, MNS VOR, with no problem. The second point was KOLOS intersection. I opened the map view looked at the KOLOS intersection, and there were no frequencies for the intersection. Then I realized that intersections do not have frequencies.

So how am I supposed to track toward an intersection?

[Meinas]

bleh....

[Meinas]

ok, my paint drawing is somewhere on this website titled "VOR1," whoever finds it gets a cookie, because the link above isnt working from this site,... >:( >:(
other message boards have it soo much simpler to post pictures...

anyways...

VORs are line of sight based, so intersections between VORs are used to navigate around a mountain or other big obstacles blocking the VOR signal.

[Billerator]

Yeah its basically that, or you can just fly on a heading FROM a VOR.

Dont worry Ive had the same problem with inserting pics, I do everything like Im supposed to but it just doesnt want to work  :P .

[OTTOL]

That covers AIRWAY BASED intersections, but not all intersections are associated with airways or even VHF navaids. RNAV fixes (intersections) are based on coordinates [solely] and require a GPS.

GeneticA, for you to see an example of an intersection, try to buy a VFR sectional or IFR LOW ALTITUDE chart. Or if you go to www.fltplan.com and register (it's free) you can download just about any (US) approach chart. These will  have intersections. Most intersections are indicated by a triangle and associated 5-letter indentifier. RNAV waypoints(intersections) use a star and usually a 5-letter(sometimes more or less) indentifier.

[GeneticA]

Things are getting complicated a bit  ::)
It is not as simple as it is tought in Ground Lessons in FS. I think I need more resources to learn all these. Before I will have a couple of questions,

In VOR2 reciever tune in the second VOR

In boings, i guess, both vor displays are imposed on each other with one having a different color, but there is only one course selector to adjust the course, so how will I adjust the second vor's course. (I know you explained this for a cessna but how is it done for a boing? (or is it too early for a newbie like me,even without a joystick, to fly the boings )

That covers AIRWAY BASED intersections, but not all intersections are associated with airways or even VHF navaids. RNAV fixes (intersections) are based on coordinates [solely] and require a GPS.

Than its so easy to track with the GPS.
My flight plan from UMMM to LUBL had one VOR than lots of intersections one after another, so I think I should use the GPS in my flight.

[OTTOL]

The instrument that you are referring to with two needles "having a different color", is called an RMI( radio magnetic indicator). You CANNOT select a course with this instrument! It will only point to the VOR who's frequency you have selected (usually the #2 NAV). Take some time to experiment with this instrument.

Go to map mode. Find the nearest VOR and fly to and around it. Frequently note your position ( by using map view) and then note what the RMI needle indicates. By changing the frequencies, you can verify that you are looking at the correct needle. for example: If you have the correct frequency set and you are flying to the station,  the appropriate needle on the RMI will point to the "12o'clock position. Now, pause the simulator. All of the navigation functions will still work with the sim paused. Change the frequency on the #2 NAV radio. If you are properly set up and you change the frequency, the needle should now become "parked". That means it will be turned sideways pointing to either the 3o'clock or 9o'clock position. It is now unusable until you switch back to the original frequency. The RMI is a very basic instrument. Again, it only points to the station who's frequency you have selected. And just to avoid confusion, the other [colored]  needle is usually an ADF needle. An NDB(no directional beacon) is, very simply, an AM radio station designed for navigation. The ADF(automatic direction finder)will point to the NDB.  I would focus on the VOR function of the instrument for now though.
A big resounding YES would answer your final question. If you want to make your life easy for now, use the GPS and set the autopilot to NAV. Just make sure you DESELECT the GPS switch before you start and approach.

[GeneticA]

Thank you very much OTTOL, I did what you said and I got it now .
I would like to thank to others as well, you helped a lot,
Thanks.