HSD TACAN Mode for Landing

[Horns]

Can someone please remind me how to use the HSD's TACAN mode to intercept the boat's BRC? I remember setting the landing and TACAN modes and then setting the course knob to the BRC.

 

The HSD next shows me an arrow that points directly at the ship's BRC (rather than a radial to intercept it) and a midsection out of line with the rest. This is where I'm out of ideas. :joystick:

 

If someone could remind me of how to make this work or point me towards something that will I'd really appreciate it.

[Spiceman]

The arrow on the outside of the compass rose is pointing to the tacan station. Your job is to get the course line on the inside of the circle to align with the pointer on the outside of the circle, and when you do this, the course deviation index will center and all three elements will now be in alignment, the tacan station bearing pointer, the course marker, and the course deviation index.

 

To align them, place the bearing pointer between the course marker and your heading. So if you want to get to a course of North, 360, and the bearing pointer says the ship is currently at a bearing of 030, then make your heading something greater than 030, let’s say 060. The bearing pointer will then move to the left and line up with the course marker at 360 and you’ll be on course.

 

In the picture attached, if I was this guy, I would turn left to 270. The bearing pointer would then move right to line up with the course of 354. Of course, he’s at a DME of 0.5 so it doesn’t really matter, he just needs to look down!

 

A good gouge is to make two equal distances, I.e. make your heading such that the distance between your heading and the bearing pointer equals the distance between the bearing pointer and the course marker. Sandwich the bearing pointer between your heading and the course marker.

Edited May 17, 2020 by Spiceman

[Horns]

The arrow on the outside of the compass rose is pointing to the tacan station. Your job is to get the course line on the inside of the circle to align with the pointer on the outside of the circle, and when you do this, the course deviation index will center and all three elements will now be in alignment, the tacan station bearing pointer, the course marker, and the course deviation index.

 

To align them, place the bearing pointer between the course marker and your heading. So if you want to get to a course of North, 360, and the bearing pointer says the ship is currently at a bearing of 030, then make your heading something greater than 030, let’s say 060. The bearing pointer will then move to the left and line up with the course marker at 360 and you’ll be on course.

 

In the picture attached, if I was this guy, I would turn left to 270. The bearing pointer would then move right to line up with the course of 354. Of course, he’s at a DME of 0.5 so it doesn’t really matter, he just needs to look down!

 

A good gouge is to make three equal distances, I.e. make your heading such that the distance between your heading and the bearing pointer equals the distance between the bearing pointer and the course marker. Sandwich the bearing pointer between your heading and the course marker.

 

Now that I know what's involved in doing it right I see why I must have skipped trying to figure it out on my previous aircraft. Thanks so much for that Spiceman, a very clear explanation of a principle that could be extremely confusing. Here's hoping you get a lot of positive DCS karma for this good deed.

[Spiceman]

Sweet, glad to help!