Limits on DME Arc
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: San Bernardino
On a large aircraft such as an MD-11 when flying a DME arc, is there any provision for the autoflight to maintain this DME arc or is the DME arc flown entirely by hand? I would imagine it'd be hard for the autoflight to do this.
Joined: Jan 2000
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The primary obstacle clerance area is 2.5NM either side of track - minimum obstacle clearance is 300m/1000ft. The secondary areas are 2.5NM either side of the rpimary areas - MOC is 300m/1000ft at the inner edge reducing to zero at the outer edge.
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: Arizona USA
If you are clever enough, and don't mind a bit of button pushing, a DME arc can be constructed with most models of older FMS's/GPS's, that are not in the data base, then use 'area nav' coupled to the autopilot, for quite accurate arc navigation..
And, yes, +/- 2nm is my understanding for the accuracy required, unless stated otherwise by OPS SPECS or the relevant civil aviation authority concerned.
And, yes, +/- 2nm is my understanding for the accuracy required, unless stated otherwise by OPS SPECS or the relevant civil aviation authority concerned.
Bottums Up
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: dunnunda
+ 2nm in Oz, except where otherwise noted. The only place I'm aware of that varies this is NW to NE of YPPH where the Pearce RAAF base airspace causes the arcing limit to be +1nm.
DAL2728 As Smiley says, if it's in the Nav DB then arcing works well, if it's not, then its a series of straight lines, or modulating bank to waffle from one side of the arc to t'other and back again.
DAL2728 As Smiley says, if it's in the Nav DB then arcing works well, if it's not, then its a series of straight lines, or modulating bank to waffle from one side of the arc to t'other and back again.
PPRuNeaholic
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Cairns FNQ
Yes, I believe that Oz uses +/- 2 NM for pilot tolerance on the arc (unless stated otherwise on the chart). I've always wondered how they arrived at this figure because, when I crunched the numbers based on Pans Ops design criteria (many, many years ago now), I came up with +/- 1 NM. Hence, the pilot tolerance for DME arc in PNG is in the books as +/- 1 NM.
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Scotland
Interesting question. I have always worked to the 2.5nm quoted by Reynolds No1 as far as the question "Did he exceed the cleared area?" goes, but apply a "Pilot Performance Standard", which is arbitrary and based on what the average pilot can do on our (helo) type. That limit is 0.5nm, which was also the limit used on IRTs when I did them in the RAF. Absolutely no documentary backup for that one, so shoot at will...but it does improve the standards.
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: On the river bank
Under FAA TERPS manual a DME arc has a width that is the same as an airway (4nm either side of centerline). However while demonstrating proficiency at tracking an arc the exam tolerances are limited to +//1nm.
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Scotland
Sounds authoritative, Dan, but can we have references? The original question said he couldn't find it documented. I've only succeeded in finding the reference to Primary and Secondary areas in PANSOPS, and that's 2.5nm.
