VOR ORIENTATIONS

I now can say that I have got the VOR intercepts down pad. Phew!

I have got all the mystique of how to use a VOR for tracking and navigation out of my system, I think.

Since we use a Garmin GNS430 on our Warriors there are two ways to track using VOR stations. Method 1 is to use VLOC function by homing to the station's frequency. Method 2 is to use the GPS & OBS function of the 430.

The 430 tells us via a message what track to use and so I dial up the OBS the track and follow the CDI to or from the VOR station.

For intercepts to and from a station there are basically 4 scenarios:-

Inbound to Inbound

Dial up the desired new Inbound track on the OBS and turn the aircraft in the direction following the CDI (say to the left) by say 30 deg. And when the CDI tries to center, turn the aircraft progressively following the rate of turn of the CDI to the opposite direction ie to the right to the new track.

Outbound to Outbound

Dial up the desired new Outbound track on the OBS and turn the aircraft in the direction following the CDI (say to the left) and cross the old track by 30 deg.

Inbound to Outbound

Dial up the desired new track on the OBS and turn the aircraft in the opposite sense to the CDI and stop the turn 30 deg before the new Outbound track.

Outbound to Inbound

Dial up the new desired track on the OBS and turn the aircraft in the opposite sense to the CDI and stop the turn 60 deg or so before the new Inbound track.

Tips:

1. Whilst flying the plane keep an eye out to the VOR station if you can see it and have a sense of where and how far you are from the station.

2. It will always be useful if you can visualise where your plane is and is turning to, in the real world ie N-S-E-W sector of a DG.

3. Using the GPS/OBS function is sometimes helpful because the GNS430 will display the track you are tracking to or from in the form of a white line to help the pilot visualise the true scenario of the intercepts.

4. When navigating using the GPS function do not toggle the OBS function on in the 430 because that is only useful for intercepts to a station. If the aerodrome or ground station has no VOR transmitter then toggle the GPS function on and DIAL UP the track you wish to home in to or track away from. This function works like a VLOC and actually shows the track you have dialed up.

Hero Pilot

Frankston Standard Leader Nov 21, 2008
BREAKING NEWS: Trainee and pilot survive emergency landing in Langwarrin
news
Emergency Services





First photo: The scene of the crash landing. Picture: Andrew Batsch

A STUDENT pilot and his instructor are lucky to be alive after the engine on their light plane stopped mid-flight, forcing them to ditch in a Langwarrin quarry just after 2pm.

The plane was on a training flight between French Island and Moorabbin Airport when it was forced to ditch near Quarry Rd, about 55km south-east of the CBD.

The pilot told the Leader he was "a little scared’’ following the emergency.

"I am very well considering,’’ he added, but refused to comment further.

First photos: Plane ditches in Langwarrin quarry

Sgt Darron Hedge, at the scene, praised the pilot, 45.

"If it had been a little closer to Moorabbin, it would have been much more serious,’’ he said.

"The pilot did a great job averting what could have been a disaster.’’

Sgt Hedge said the student pilot, 23, was flying the Piper Cherokee when the engine spluttered and cut out.

The instructor, aged 45, took over the controls and realised he had to make an emergency landing, looking for open space away from homes, Sgt Hedge said.

The pilot brought the plane to land, skidding along a bank of dirt and ripping away the undercarriage.

The single-engine plane stopped just metres from a large wall of sand.

Fire crews were called to the scene but police said neither the pilot or student were injured.
Their names are not known. Both are thought to be eastern European and its believed both are from the Royal Victorian Aero Club.

The club said it had been informed of the accident, but when asked if it was one of their planes refused to comment.

A Royal Victorian Aero Club aircraft crashed in Cheltenham in August after a mid-air collision, killing a student pilot.

The Leader is at the scene. More details to come.