Is there an in flight divert gadget on the market?
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Get a GPS and keep in switched-on. Why make things difficult for yourself when you're in a stressful situation?
Next best is to get an IMC rating and request a SRA (assuming the diversion aerodrome has full ATC, etc.). You'll be less worried by weather, diversions, etc. with an IMC rating anyway.
Else an ADF is useful provided the divertion has an NDB (better still with a DME).
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Next best is to get an IMC rating and request a SRA (assuming the diversion aerodrome has full ATC, etc.). You'll be less worried by weather, diversions, etc. with an IMC rating anyway.
Else an ADF is useful provided the divertion has an NDB (better still with a DME).
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The Original Whirly
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Ludwig,
It eats huge amounts of batteries, and I can't be bothered - I enjoy VFR nav and find it fairly easy...because I keep in practice. But it's very useful if the vis gets worse, or I can't find the airfield, or for some other good reason.
The real trouble with GPS is that if you use it all the time you start to rely on it - I know where I am, but I'll just take a quick look at the GPS to make sure. Then if you don't have the GPS, you feel lost. Been there, done that. But each to his own. I'm in no way anti-GPS. I was just saying that even if you don't want to use one, they're a useful back-up.
It eats huge amounts of batteries, and I can't be bothered - I enjoy VFR nav and find it fairly easy...because I keep in practice. But it's very useful if the vis gets worse, or I can't find the airfield, or for some other good reason.
The real trouble with GPS is that if you use it all the time you start to rely on it - I know where I am, but I'll just take a quick look at the GPS to make sure. Then if you don't have the GPS, you feel lost. Been there, done that. But each to his own. I'm in no way anti-GPS. I was just saying that even if you don't want to use one, they're a useful back-up.
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Unfortunately these anti-GPS sentiments always get me going 
But let's keep it very brief.
If you are a plain VFR PPL pilot, the proper way to use a GPS is to use it concurrently with map navigation.
Plan the flight with a chart and produce a plog. You've got to do that anyway, no matter what gizmos you have, because as of 2004 the only official terrain/CAS reference is the paper charts.
As you fly along, it (assuming it is a moving map type, anything less is a waste of money) tells you where you should be, and you are looking out of the window anyway so you can look over there and say to yourself "yes, that looks like the M25" etc etc. So you are checking the two all the way along. It's a really easy, low stress way to fly, and it is awfully hard to get lost.
I don't see why people get so hung up over sole use of GPS, using GPS for "primary" navigation and so on.
But let's keep it very brief.
If you are a plain VFR PPL pilot, the proper way to use a GPS is to use it concurrently with map navigation.
Plan the flight with a chart and produce a plog. You've got to do that anyway, no matter what gizmos you have, because as of 2004 the only official terrain/CAS reference is the paper charts.
As you fly along, it (assuming it is a moving map type, anything less is a waste of money) tells you where you should be, and you are looking out of the window anyway so you can look over there and say to yourself "yes, that looks like the M25" etc etc. So you are checking the two all the way along. It's a really easy, low stress way to fly, and it is awfully hard to get lost.
I don't see why people get so hung up over sole use of GPS, using GPS for "primary" navigation and so on.
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How has this turned into another pointless religious GPS war? For 
sake, can't one single thread directly answer the poster's original question without getting drawn into some holy war?
Why can't people with strong views (on GPS in this instance) accept that there are other people with opposite views, and let sleeping dogs lie?
So... anybody got any good techniques for doing en-route diverts?
sake, can't one single thread directly answer the poster's original question without getting drawn into some holy war?Why can't people with strong views (on GPS in this instance) accept that there are other people with opposite views, and let sleeping dogs lie?
So... anybody got any good techniques for doing en-route diverts?
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ThePirateKing
Apologies for "pointless religious GPS war"
If you know your position then a diversion is obvious. You get your chart, put a cross where you are now, draw a line to where you want to go, estimate the track angle, do a wind adjustment (max drift is half the wind, and you've got Form 214 haven't you) and fly that as the new heading. Regarding how long for, the distance between the end of one's thumb fingernail and the first joint is about 5 mins (on a 500k chart) Or you can measure it with a ruler. This is taught to everybody in the PPL.
A GPS is a far easier way to do it because it shows your position and shows your ground track.
Is there meant to be some clever trick for doing diversions? I've never come across one.
I have read of tricks for doing box diversions around an en-route obstacle; diverting around controlled airspace (which you originally planned to transit through but can't get clearance) can be a real challenge if navigating conventionally.
Apologies for "pointless religious GPS war"
If you know your position then a diversion is obvious. You get your chart, put a cross where you are now, draw a line to where you want to go, estimate the track angle, do a wind adjustment (max drift is half the wind, and you've got Form 214 haven't you) and fly that as the new heading. Regarding how long for, the distance between the end of one's thumb fingernail and the first joint is about 5 mins (on a 500k chart)
Or you can measure it with a ruler. This is taught to everybody in the PPL.A GPS is a far easier way to do it because it shows your position and shows your ground track.
Is there meant to be some clever trick for doing diversions? I've never come across one.
I have read of tricks for doing box diversions around an en-route obstacle; diverting around controlled airspace (which you originally planned to transit through but can't get clearance) can be a real challenge if navigating conventionally.
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IO540,
I'm happy with my diverts.
I was just trying to return this thread to the original topic. Radical, eh? 
Returning to my earlier post - Cabair flogged me my "Knightson" during my training. However, I can't any more details about them. Cabair seem to source most of their supplies (Cabair branded, or otherwise) from AFE, but AFE don't seem to have an online catalogue. Transair don't have them listed anywhere obvious on their site.
So, does anyone have any more info on these devices? In fact, has anybody else even heard of them???
TPK
I'm happy with my diverts.
I was just trying to return this thread to the original topic. Radical, eh? Returning to my earlier post - Cabair flogged me my "Knightson" during my training. However, I can't any more details about them. Cabair seem to source most of their supplies (Cabair branded, or otherwise) from AFE, but AFE don't seem to have an online catalogue. Transair don't have them listed anywhere obvious on their site.
So, does anyone have any more info on these devices? In fact, has anybody else even heard of them???
TPK
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The Wind Protractor
(Personally I'd say GPS too, but for those that don't want to...)
ThePirateKing gave what I consider to be the best answer. These days various pilot kit shops sell a thing called The Wind Protractor. One pencil dot on it with the forecase wind, drop it on your map with the dot where you are now and read off the TIME and BEARING to where you want to go. It really is amazingly easy. No WCA, no in-the-head maths, no sliding a ruler over from a VOR rose.
Mind you, £8.75 for a bit of plastic.
You can also use it on the ground for creating your PLOG.
ThePirateKing gave what I consider to be the best answer. These days various pilot kit shops sell a thing called The Wind Protractor. One pencil dot on it with the forecase wind, drop it on your map with the dot where you are now and read off the TIME and BEARING to where you want to go. It really is amazingly easy. No WCA, no in-the-head maths, no sliding a ruler over from a VOR rose.
Mind you, £8.75 for a bit of plastic.
You can also use it on the ground for creating your PLOG.
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