View Full Version : SID's and STARS.
Hi,
Apart form when you are learning to gain the IR, is there any time you have had to fly a SID or STAR manually in a jet or heavy turboprop or is it all done on autopilot?
Thanks
Nick Figaretto
6th Aug 2001, 21:24
Depends a bit on what you mean by "on autopilot".
You can always fly a SID and a STAR on autopilot in Heading mode and any pitch mode. On newer airliners the SIDS and STARS are pre-programmed in the Flight Management System, so that you can fly the SID/STAR in FMS-mode, and the aircraft will make the appopriate turns automatically. (And the climbs, descends, approach and landing too. :))
In "older" aircraft (like the Fokker 50 that I fly) the FMS is just an AREA NAV, which only uses cross-bearings from VORs and DMEs to calculate the positions. The FMS is almost useless up to 3-10 000 feet (depending on topography and nearby facilities) so you can't use it on a SID.
STARS is a problem too if they contain arcs, as these FMS'es only gives you point to point navigation. The position gets less accurate below 5-2000 feet during descend too (again depending on topography and nearby facilities) So - you need to use HDG mode.
Personally I always fly the SID manually, and I mostly fly the STAR manually too, depending on workload, weather etc.
If the weather is fairly nice, I remove my flight directors too. I do this to keep up my flying skills, and because it is more fun! :)
Nick.
Nick,
Thanks for the reply, what I mean't by autopilot, was that the whole lot was disconnected and the autothrottle as well.
So the SID and STAR are both flown totally manually. :) :)
Thanks again.
Nick Figaretto
7th Aug 2001, 09:55
Then the anwer is: You never have to fly SIDS and STARS manually.
-If the autopilot is working. ;)
Nick.
StressFree
9th Aug 2001, 21:11
I fly a 737NG from STN and frequently fly the whole SID, STAR and approach manually, ie. no A/P or A/T.
It stops me becoming bored and lazy and keeps up your manual flying skills.
:cool: