Port Published Rule
 

Anyone remember how this went?

An instructor of old mentioned this when setting my HSI for VOR's so that the bar always came in from the right/left? I assume left since port but it seemed quite handy at the time for setting the radials when the VOR was either on your right or left of track.

...something like that.

Rgds
SS

Port Proper, Right Reciprocal. Needle always moves from the left.

Yes, I remember that rule, but wasn't it used for OBS/Zero Reader type instruments, so you could tell (if you missed the passage) whether you'd reached the radial yet?

I teach on HSI (no FMS) type aircraft, and whether you set "Proper" or "Reciprocal" in the window, the Beam Bar assumes its correct spatial position, either to left or right of you.

Have a good think before shooting me down, because I was involved in quite a heated discussion of this some time ago (can't be bothered to post a link) and I have a simulator in which I can confirm my assertions.

Nobody is shooting you down, but I answered the question that was asked which was about the old style instruments with the needle that would move across horizontally only. Keithl, you are talking about later instruments where the whole needle carriage rotates through 360° showing you a 'map' view of the radial rather than a simple left/right needle scale.

So, Skids when you say "HSI" what did you have in mind? My understanding is that the older instruments to which NotSo refers, were not called HSIs.

Was it 'Omni Bearing Indicator'? Must admit, faced with one now, I'd probably let out a 'Nightmare on Elm Street' scream! Wasn't it associated with a separate relative bearing indicator- not even an RMI type scale, but a simple degrees left or right of aircraft alignment?

Its Port PUBLISHED, Right RECIPROCAL.

Published refers to the Published Radial (Radial always bearing from the VOR, yes?).

Useful rule when using OBS bearings as a cross cut for a waypoint - use this system and needle always goes left to right as you pass selected radial, which takes away having to think too hard when you are busy!

An alternative is to always set the radial and the needle will be on the side of the aircraft where the VOR is located before waypoint and vice versa afterwards.

Hope this helps - takes me back to early days of Pilot Nav before DME when we had to find waypoints on cross cuts - good game!