Where do you get HSI bearing for landings?

[Avatar72]

I went back to the training mission for landing for a refresher. After calling inbound and recieving my approach information, the traning mission then tells you to put in you ILS settings. Then it tells you to change the bearing on the HSI to 130.

 

where does this information come from?

 

More to the point, when I want to land anywhere, how do I know what bearing the HSI should have?

 

Is it related to the heading of the runway itself?

[S77th-konkussion]

You can use Shu77 's airport charts.. I have them posted on google docs.. http://www.s77th.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1683 (couple other things you might find useful there too)

 

The BIG runway numbers are derived from rounding up from a heading on the compass. If a runways' actual magnetic course runs say 093 (and 273 from opposite end) those runways would be:

 

Round up 093 to 100, cut off the 0.

Round up 273 to 280, cut off the 0..

 

voila---- Runway is assigned numbers 10 and 28

Edited April 8, 2011 by S77th-konkussion

[Avatar72]

I actually have the airport charts. So the HSI heading must be matched to the airport headings? That's the trick?

 

I think I see, the training mission has me landing at Batumi on runway 13. So adding the 0 makes 130. If I were landing the other direction, I would set it to 310 since the other side is 31.

 

I understand now.

[S77th-konkussion]

Oh you HAD to pick Batumi... Batumi seems cursed in this particular section.. Note that SHu's chart says 125/ 305.. According to worldaerodata.com Batumi is actually 130.7 but in DCS, if you use 130 then the HSI is off.. so 125 seems better.. then you account for mag var.. oh hell with it...

 

 

 

You're backwards.. The runway number is derived from the actual magnetic heading - not the other way around.. You start with the heading, round it and remove the zero. You can't neccessarily back into it the other way- and come out with the number you should use.

 

Look at my example above from Beslan. You won't come out with 093 or 273 with your method..

[RichardG]

You can get the runway headings from the CDU divert page. Or you can open the map with F10, and click on the runway. Look in the info box.

[hassata]

Oh you HAD to pick Batumi...

 

:D

[Avatar72]

ok. I see the 125/305. That still doesnt make the training mission any easier to understand where it gets the 130. So really, I should be using the headings on the the charts with the small text running along the runway chart, not the runway number.

[Baggy MacDouche]

A bit off topic perhaps, but while I can understand why a lot of airfields don't have ILS, but why can't they have PAPI lights?

[Nu-NRG]

ok. I see the 125/305. That still doesnt make the training mission any easier to understand where it gets the 130. So really, I should be using the headings on the the charts with the small text running along the runway chart, not the runway number.

 

On airfields divert page:

Runway 13 = 130

 

or

 

Runway 29 = 290

 

or

 

Runway 17 = 170

[S77th-konkussion]

For the HSI- yes. I suppose from then on- you could make notes on the charts about how accurate it is from there. (meaning the magnetic error)

[aaron886]

So really, I should be using the headings on the the charts with the small text running along the runway chart, not the runway number.

 

Yes. The runway number is too imprecise. In reality, pilots would have approach plates for the region.... all the information they would need to execute an approach.

 

On airfields divert page:

Runway 13 = 130...

 

No. That could be as far as 5 degrees off. :no: That information is not designed for instrument approaches, and the original question was about flying an ILS.

[Zenra]

Yes. The runway number is too imprecise. In reality, pilots would have approach plates for the region.... all the information they would need to execute an approach.

 

No. That could be as far as 5 degrees off. :no: That information is not designed for instrument approaches, and the original question was about flying an ILS.

 

That's right - the only way I know of in-game to get the exact runway heading is from the mission map (F10) view. Zoom in and click on the runway - the heading will be in the info area at the lower left of the screen.

 

The CDU DIVERT page has some good information for instrument approaches, but does not give a precise runway heading. It only gives the runway numbers, which as others have said isn't really precise enough for setting the HSI during instrument approaches.

[Avatar72]

That's right - the only way I know of in-game to get the exact runway heading is from the mission map (F10) view. Zoom in and click on the runway - the heading will be in the info area at the lower left of the screen.

 

The CDU DIVERT page has some good information for instrument approaches, but does not give a precise runway heading. It only gives the runway numbers, which as others have said isn't really precise enough for setting the HSI during instrument approaches.

 

So hopefully in RL, a pilots divert page on the CDU is more accurate, otherwise they must take out their AAA maps, fold it open and find the correct heading with a compass and protractor :) or use similar paper documetation...

[aaron886]

So hopefully in RL, a pilots divert page on the CDU is more accurate, otherwise they must take out their AAA maps, fold it open and find the correct heading with a compass and protractor :) or use similar paper documetation...

 

I'd guess they would only use that Divert page for quick reference... that's not enough to navigate safely and deconflict in a real-world scenario. Nah, they'd use EGI to navigate along stored points, or perhaps at least use TAD map overlays. At terminal range, they'd set up for an instrument approach (usually with the direction of ATC) which is described in entirety on a kneeboard-sized piece of paper. (Approach plate.) They would have all the plates for the region in their map box, no doubt.