Radar Vectors
 

You are flying an autopilot equipped aircraft and you are told to turn onto a radar heading of 270 degrees by ATC? You select 270 on the AP heading selector. Will the aircraft now fly on a track (ie across the ground) at 270degrees or do you have to calculate the wind and put in a different heading , say 275 degrees to make your "radar heading" 270.
I am a bitconfused as to how airliners take into account the wind calcs when they turn onto headings. Does the Auotopilot compute the difference or does the pilot have to?
If someone could explain that would be great

When a radar controller gives you a heading to fly he expects you not to take account of wind, nor to fly a track. He will have already calculated the wind effect in issuing the heading. Simply have the aeroplane fly the compass heading and all should be well.

In the airbus you can select track, but for vectors ATC will take wind into account while vectoring you onto the ILS. So you only have to select the heading and sit back:}

Radar vectors given from ATC are already corrected in order to make the required track good. The pilot is required to merely fly the instructed magnetic heading.

If you get told to fly a heading, fly a heading. Simple. AP and ATC do all the science bit so you don't have to. Just try not to spill your coffee reaching for the FGCP/MCP. ;)

just turn the little knob on 270...and push heading ON.
is that hard?

No, not if your using microsoft flight simulator which I'm sure is what your talking about A320rider? Yet another stunningly useful contribution from this idiot.

Actually, A320Rider has accurately described the actions for flying a heading on autopilot in the Airbus. As you appear not to be aware of this process, WingDown, can you elucidate us with your qualifications for answering this thread?

A320Rider may not be everyone's cup of tea (including mine), but that doesn't mean he's always wrong!

Scroggs

in fact wingdown is right, PULL the heading knob or you will be in managed mode!!!;)

I should never answer a thread with a hangover! :ouch:

Scroggs

Get a proper a/c and tell the boss to do it himself as you're busy reading Nuts. :}