Originally Posted by DozyWannabe
the INS track was not used for the descent below MSA, which was offered by Mac Station under "radar vectors" and taken up under VMC rules by the crew.
Yes, I'm quite aware of that. But what I would ask you, and others who take the "Vette position" is, in the absence of AINS, do you really think the crew would have
had the confidence they did?
Hypothetical: the crew is in a simulator with no information provided by AINS, but are told they are nearing the Antarctic coastline somewhere within a 50 mile radius of the general McMurdo Sound area. They are shown the same view out of the cockpit that existed that day as they approach the area of Ross Island. Would they be able to establish a "positive fix" in this situation?
Real flight Hypothetical: the AINS malfunctions and stops working some 100 miles out from the area, before any land has become visible. If they arrive over the same location as where their actual real life descent began, would they still be entitiled to a "positive fix."?
Do you see what I'm getting at?