|
Post by Les Smith on Jan 29, 2010 20:25:33 GMT -5
OK, I'm curious! Having just finished leg 5, YHOT-YCRG, without any problems with navigation I wonder if anyone can explain why my En Route Supplement Australia (2005) says, "RADIO COMMUNICATIONS AND LANDING AIDS NDB CRG 386 Not available for navigation below FL110"
I approached CRG from 7,500' and actually crossed over the NDB at 4000' without trouble.
Any help with this query would be welcome.
Les
|
|
|
Post by Andrew Godden on Jan 29, 2010 20:57:10 GMT -5
OK, I'm curious! Having just finished leg 5, YHOT-YCRG, without any problems with navigation I wonder if anyone can explain why my En Route Supplement Australia (2005) says, "RADIO COMMUNICATIONS AND LANDING AIDS NDB CRG 386 Not available for navigation below FL110" I approached CRG from 7,500' and actually crossed over the NDB at 4000' without trouble. Any help with this query would be welcome. Les Les, I would only offer that this is the difference between the real world and what is simulated in MSFS.
|
|
|
Post by Tom Goodrick on Jan 29, 2010 21:35:25 GMT -5
Andrew is exactly right. In the Real World, radio signals are blocked or scrambled by mountains when you fly at relatively low altitude. I complained bout this in the World Rally we had recently. The course designers were using navaids that I seriously doubted could produce valid signals. Hi frequency signals as in VOR are blocked by rocks and even by trees with thick foliage. Low frequency signals like NDB's are scambled and unreliable. They can be good at some times and bad at others.
The solution in the real world is to use GPS. GPS receivers get their signals coming straight down from above so mountains don't mess them up in most cases. The nav units know the coordinates of the navaids and show them on the maps while placing the aircraft accurately on the same map. Having suffered from this problem in the Real World when flying between mountains it did not take me long to grasp the significance of GPS for air navigation.
OF course FS is simply not smart enough to know if a navaid signal should be blocked by terrain so in FS you can use navaids not usable in the real world.
|
|
|
Post by rattler1 on Jan 30, 2010 18:30:49 GMT -5
Tom, GPS is a great aid, but it can be blocked, especially when flying through railway tunnels.
|
|
|
Post by Les Smith on Jan 30, 2010 19:10:51 GMT -5
Approach plate for Corryong (YCRG) Thanks Andrew and Tom for your analysis of this query. Interesting! From Airservices Australia 2009 website the only approach plate listed does not include any reference to the local NDB (CYRG). And no GPS approach to RWY 06; I presume one is expected to arrive from the East and enter a right-hand pattern for 06. But, in 1944 (with reference to the DC3 that I am flying) there was no GPS system in place. So, long live the NDBs and VORs! Les
|
|
|
Post by Tom Goodrick on Jan 30, 2010 21:42:36 GMT -5
If you were flying in 1944, you would be SOL for a GPS. But today, most people flying DC-3's have GPS nav computers like the Garmin 530 in the panel. i have even seen them in warbirds like the Mustand and Spitfire. They have to get from show to show somehow.
Another reason you wont see an approach for 06 is the people who live there do not like planes flying so low over their houses.
|
|
|
Post by paulvdberg on Feb 1, 2010 16:35:00 GMT -5
I go with Les: NO GPS! 'Like to read out the needles and pointers and radials to get the situation awareness that is needed. Adds to the challenge! No autopilot either. cheers, Paul
|
|