Navigation Help.

[NhiTrac]

Hi crew,

 

Absolute NOOB and pretty sure this is going to be a face palm moment for me on the first reply, but am desperate, so here it goes...

 

I'm and am struggling a bit with the very basics, navigation! Have been trawling through the gigantic DCS A-10 manual/forums searches, youtube vids etc but can't seem to find my answer and am hoping you guys can help.

 

I can navigate just fine following waypoints etc, however if I'm coming into land and ATC gives me a heading to fly E.g. fly heading 200 for 8 (I turn so HUD tape is indicating "20" which also matches the HSI needle), I then check ATC and ask for assistance (azimuth reading?), it'll tell me I'm actually flying heading 160 or something like that. I.e. a totally different heading to what I'm currently flying, which is what they initially gave me.

 

Have I gone off on a wrong trail and totally missed something so obvious with regards to using the HUD's Heading tape to navigate?

 

Looking forward to any help I can get. Feel free to have a giggle too.

 

Cheers

[IonicRipper]

The landing training in game should answer your question. But basically you don't need to ask for azimuth unless you forgot your bearing. I think they are just directing you to the same point but because you moved since the first bearing its slightly different this time.

 

I'm just starting myself so its hard for me to explain but i know exactly what you mean and i'm pretty sure if you did the landing training mission in game it would answer your question.

[quarkie]

Imagine a line going straight from the runway into the air. And then imagine a point on this line somewhere 10 nm away from runway. The ATC is giving you the heading from your current position to that point each time you poll him. So if you are close to that point (within 20 nm), even slight deviation in heading can change advised by ATC heading drastically as you close in.

 

[NhiTrac]

Yup. Face palm moment it is.

 

Thanks both. That explains it and that illustration just nails it in.

 

Ps I've done the landing training mission a number of times and it works fine, can pick up the ILS without a problem. Its when I do a different mission and attempt to land myself that I get into trouble.

 

More practice it is.

 

Cheers again.

[IonicRipper]

Thats really all there is to it. Don't let yourself get discouraged by all there is to learn. Just take it 1 step at the time. Practice is the key.

[alanmc]

This is how I normally line up with the runway:

 

- Go to the CDU Nav->divert page and choose my base

- This sets my current steerpoint to the runway, and the heading bug also.

- Check what runway ATC want to bring me in on

- If for example it's 04, then the heading of the runway is approximately 040

- I set my Course bug to this heading (040)

- Fly the heading directed by ATC

- When the steerpoint bug starts to converge with the course bug, I turn towards the runway ... Perfectly lined up.

[FreeFall]

http://en.wiki.eagle.ru/wiki/DCS_A-10C_Guides,_Tutorials_and_Reference_Documents

and under Aircraft Systems goto Navigation System Tutorials and watch the videos (especially by Fish).

 

Some videos are quite old and there might be some inaccuracies, but anyway, worth checking.

[rob10]

CDU offset to set up a waypoint for the Initial Approach Fix will be your friend in getting this down. Set the markpoint when you get the initial directions from ATC. There are a number of good tutorials about this around, but here are the directions on doing it that I have in my checklist:

 

To set Mission Waypoint for Initial Approach Fix (IAF)

- Set MFCD as CDU repeater

- Press MK on UFC -- MARK POINT LETTER/INFO will show up on CDU

- UFC FUNC then UFC 4 (OSET)

- Enter MARK Letter for current position on scratchpad (or FUNC UFC 8 to set MARK mode and scroll)

- OSB 19 (INIT POINT)

- Enter HDG/DISTANCE on scratchpad (HHHDDD.D)

- OSB 8 (MH/DIST) - enters magnetic heading/distance

- OSB 9 - Copies to new Mission Waypoint (can enter name in scratchpad or it will use next available number)

- Set AAP STEER PT rotary to MISSION (or UFC FUNC 0 (STEER) )

- Select IAF waypoint created as Steerpoint

 

EDIT TO ADD: following the heading they give you works, but I like to drop a waypoint so you have some idea how FAR you are from that point. The ILS (if available) will react when you get their, but because you're often coming to the point from the side, it really doesn't give you much time to react before you blow past the glideslope. Plus it lets you hit the point precisely without having to call back.

Edited March 8, 2013 by rob10
Added more info.

[Giant2111]

If you are able to navigate as you said, either choose the inital waypoint, usually "0", or check the waypoints 50-60, there are all airfields listed. Choose your desired field, set your course,hit Autopilot, get some coffee or enjoy the landscape, closing in to about 8-5 miles then call ATC for inbound. They mostly give you a "visual" call. Works every time.

For TACAN or ILS landings check procedures accordingly.

Edited March 13, 2013 by Giant2111

[NhiTrac]

Thanks again guys. I think I almost have the basics down pat. Will continue with the 'practice practice practice'.

 

This certainly is a rewarding sim once you nail something.

 

Cheers

[Hamblue]

Get used to asking. Eventually you will take a sam hit and lose your tad. The ATC calls will get you home.