North up or Track up
Thread Starter
North up or Track up
What's your flavour and why? I was questioned on this on the weekend by someone whom was adament that track up is the only way.
I'm a North up aviator because:
- I always know in which direction I am in relation to where I am headed (avoids the incorrect 5 miles to the west when it's actually east type call issues)
- When I'm circling around when lost
the map stays still
- I always thought track up was the way that women read maps
Any suggestions?
I'm a North up aviator because:
- I always know in which direction I am in relation to where I am headed (avoids the incorrect 5 miles to the west when it's actually east type call issues)
- When I'm circling around when lost
the map stays still- I always thought track up was the way that women read maps
Any suggestions?
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I find it depends on the speed of the aircraft as to what range you set track up to and then Nth up.
For me its about 200nm range everything is TRK up, when I pan out beyond that the map goes Nth up. That is based on about an hours travel.
Most of the airline guys will say TRK up I reckon.
Interesting question with many varied opinions I bet.
For me its about 200nm range everything is TRK up, when I pan out beyond that the map goes Nth up. That is based on about an hours travel.
Most of the airline guys will say TRK up I reckon.
Interesting question with many varied opinions I bet.
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Heading up, cos that's where the aircraft is pointing.
If heading up isn't available, then track up as a next best compromise.
North up, occasionally for planning, never for aviation.
My opinion only, not that of my employer (who uses track up).
If heading up isn't available, then track up as a next best compromise.
North up, occasionally for planning, never for aviation.
My opinion only, not that of my employer (who uses track up).
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I have flown B747, 757 and 767 track up. Now flying 777 heading up. With a total of over 20 years time to make my mind up, I would say track up every time.
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On the nav display, track up as most nav is by inertial/gps. If radio-based nav, then heading up. On the electronic map, prefer north up as that's what I'm used to on paper.
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If you were taught to map read correctly back in your day VFR PPL stage, you would have had a map on your lap orientated to 'track up' so that you could read 'map to ground' comparing the map and the outside world in the same orientation. It makes sense to set up your GPS map the same way - heading up or track up. Much less mental re-arranging required with less potential errors to form the correct picture in your head! 
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I'm just an old PPL and have only ever flown VFR with one engine. I've spent a bit of time flying in the more remote areas and my "aids" consist of a compass and a watch supplemented by a Garmin 295 and the choice of a couple of iPads.
I use the non TSO electronics to help me verify my position on ground and paper and their correlation with my actual position has been remarkably consistent.
My GPS is set track up but my moving map is North up because I learned to navigate at sea and that's what you do with your charts when plotting with dividers and parallel ruler. Everything on a chart is printed North up after all and we do draw in our track lines, don't we?
Kaz
I use the non TSO electronics to help me verify my position on ground and paper and their correlation with my actual position has been remarkably consistent.
My GPS is set track up but my moving map is North up because I learned to navigate at sea and that's what you do with your charts when plotting with dividers and parallel ruler. Everything on a chart is printed North up after all and we do draw in our track lines, don't we?
Kaz
Thread Starter
For those that use track up / heading up, do you use your moving map GPS to determine which direction you are approaching the airfield from, or do you look at the compass and refer to the opposing heading?
Eg. Heading from Melbourne to Adelaide with track up. Other than the fact that you know you are heading from east to west, do you look at the compass to determine your approach cardinal or do you refer to something on the moving map?
Eg. Heading from Melbourne to Adelaide with track up. Other than the fact that you know you are heading from east to west, do you look at the compass to determine your approach cardinal or do you refer to something on the moving map?
Bored Squawkie? That question's almost guaranteed to get people boxing. I was originally taught to navigate by an old salt who had a lot to say about those who navigate track up - and sit down to pee, so I'm still a North up by preference. Quite capable of doing track up and agree that air race style nav, low n fast is best done that way, but given that my flying isn't done that way, the only time I go track up is to accommodate the odd instructor who isn't capable of the same flexibility.
I was originally taught to navigate by an old salt who had a lot to say about those who navigate track up - and sit down to pee, so I'm still a North up by preference.
If you were taught to map read correctly back in your day VFR PPL stage, you would have had a map on your lap orientated to 'track up' so that you could read 'map to ground' comparing the map and the outside world in the same orientation. It makes sense to set up your GPS map the same way - heading up or track up. Much less mental re-arranging required with less potential errors to form the correct picture in your head!
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Bored? You ain't seen nothing yet, wait until my next thread!
Lemme guess - the merits of an efato turn back? That'll be good for 6 pages and at least 3 sin-binnings.
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So, out of the 11,000 (or so) ADS-B tracked airliners that are airborne right now, I would guess about 100% are using track up on their displays.
They must be doing something right.
They must be doing something right.
So, out of the 11,000 (or so) ADS-B tracked airliners that are airborne right now, I would guess about 100% are using track up on their displays.
They must be doing something right.
They must be doing something right.
The part of this discussion that always amazes me is how vociferously the track up advocates defend their choice, whereas the North up heretics seem rather more laissez faire about it all.
Thread Starter
I have my own thoughts that 99% of those that call and say that they are 5 or 10 miles to the east when they are actually to the west are using track up 