GPS and Great Circle routes

[tb10er]

I am about to fly MAN-ORD.

Out of curiosity I took my aviation GPS into the back garden (not far from MAN) and obtained a route and distance.

My question is:

Ignoring SIDs, ATC, etc, if the aircraft were to follow my GPS, would it be using the Great Circle route ie. shortest, or some other calculated route?

Just curious!

[Lemper]

Definitely Great Circle (Orthodromy) route.

[dartagnan]

depends of the software algorithm.

[Lemper]

Dartagnan,

Would you give us some examples of different algorithms that would result in different routings between two point on the Earth by GPS?

[A Very Civil Pilot]

Would you give us some examples of different algorithms that would result in different routings between two point on the Earth by GPS?


Avoiding toll roads
Avoiding motorways
Avoiding traffic blackspots


:ok::ok::ok::ok::ok:

(sorry, couldn't resist it!)