fly track instead of heading

[chillie]

I think this topic has been raised before.

Is it not time for ATC to start asking pilots to fly tracks instead of headings. I know there are a lot of cleaver Harrys who can adjust their heading allocations to compensate for the wind but it is just as easy for the pilot to fly a track as to fly a heading.

Time to take advantage of advances in technology??

[FlightDetent]

it is just as easy for the pilot to fly a track as to fly a heading. I do not think so.

FD (the un-real)

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

<<but it is just as easy for the pilot to fly a track as to fly a heading>>

If it's that easy to do both why change it? I'd wager that there are a good few pilots who couldn't fly track as easy as heading, particularly those without glass cockpits. How do they know with any degree of confidence what the wind is in a "busy" weather situation in a "busy" ATC environment? Radar controllers are well able to cope with all such situations so just leave the pilot to fly a heading and ATC will do the rest.

[PENKO]

If we all flew airbus, maybe. But there is no HDG/TRK changeover in the 737...so it is not easy to fly track.

[FlightDetent]

If we all flew airbus, maybe.Not an option. The second time i will be asked to fly track and V/S -2000 fpm I will refuse. A dangerous thing that can be done.

[chillie]

Okay!

It was just that the proposition was put to me by a pilot. I guess he flew an Airbus. :)

And I can fly a track with my paraglider... 400 GBP for a small 'navigator'

ch

[FlightDetent]

And I can fly a track with my paraglider... 400 GBP for a small 'navigator' :ok: In fact, you can display track with a NAV kit but you need to fly it yourself. That's where it gets tricky in an airliner. They'r designed for heading and keeping track through autopilot is way too much a workload - i.e. you need to prioritise and focus on what is otherwise an automated task.

[BlueSkye]

you need to prioritise and focus


Way too much too ask one would assume. Completely out of the question. Can't be done.

:yuk::yuk:

[anotherthing]

I must admit I am somewhat at a loss as to understand the benefit of flying a track instead of a heading.

The reason ATCOs use headings are many and varied but one of the main ones is to ensure seperation. Headings to the nearest 5 degrees are used and they do the job. Seperation can then be based on that heading.

There are not many ATCOs who could look at the radar screen and be correct to within 5 degrees of an aircrafts track every time.

One of the other reasons is for sequencing aircraft - ATCOs know what the still wind headings need to be for different scenarios and are capable of adjusting for the 'wind of the day'.

Every aircraft can fly a heading if instructed (though some crews seem to find it difficult :E), as we have heard in some of the replies given here, it is not as easy for some aircraft to fly a track.

The system of using headings works, and it works well; if it ain't broke (and more to the point if any change will not bring a benefit), then why fix it? :ok:

[Spitoon]

I've always thought that we use a heading when it suits the situation and a track if that is more suitable.

I have not noticed any pilots have more than the usual problems flying direct to a VOR, for example. Isn't that a track?

[criss]

"Turn left track 035".

How would you do it?

[razzele]

B737NG - HDG SEL, estimate heading taking into account the wind vector displayed on the ND next to the track bar. Fine tune heading bug to fly desired track.

:ok:

[Capt H Peacock]

The reason we get assigned radar headings is to fix the trajectory of one aircraft in relation to another. An aircraft following a track will change its heading in response to a change in either windspeed, wind direction, or TAS of the aircraft.

Heading is a constant. If it ain't broke . . .

[criss]

Good. And now your main task becomes monitoring the ND and fine tuning your hdg.

[flybymike]

We all fly a track on the localiser....:)

[loubylou]

Having watched various aircraft self position onto the loc, the ones that generally go through the loc and establish from the other side are the glass cockpit ones - so frankly I'd rather use my headings, based on the wind etc than trust the computers on the aircraft to fly a track! :ok:

louby

[FlightDetent]

Good. And now your main task becomes monitoring the ND and fine tuning your hdg. Exactly my point.:ok:

[Kiltie]

The thing that has baffled me is why sometimes ATC want everyone to fly "runway heading" after take-off in a strong crosswind, leading us all off extended centreline and in some cases over what are noise sensitive areas.

I was interested to note no Air Traffic Controller I have met uses "runway track". Their only two options are "runway heading" or "climb straight ahead"; the latter which means to me runway track but is unfortunately still ambiguous. :hmm:

[spekesoftly]

Kiltie,

In the UK "Straight Ahead" is correct. Its meaning is clearly defined in the Glossary section of the CAA RTF Manual (CAP 413), so there should be no ambiguity.

[Remers]

How could I in my piper seneca fly a track from some point!! We all aren't in jets and you have to use the same system for everyone.

This is not a thought out point.