----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----
>I think a bit of reasoning about the objective is in order here, >and will show that the question is somewhat moot. > >The reason for the odd/even separation is, of course, to avoid >fast, head-on closing situations between aircraft following opposite >flight paths. > >Any time you're within a few degrees of a North/South you are in >a zone of ambiguity. That is, traffic may be transitioning in or out >of what you think is the 'right' altitude for them. It is likely possible >that traffic which is, say, 175 degrees opposite your heading may >be at your altitude. That's nearly head-on! > >So the right way to handle it is not necessarily to torment yourself >over your correct altitude of the moment, but rather to realize that >on a North/South heading (versus East/West) you have to keep >your head up and be extra vigilant. The system doesn't work >that well at such headings. > >It's not all bad news... ...one major reason for the compass being >divided into Easterly or Westerly headings for altitude separation >is a thing known as 'the sun.' That is, during morning or evening >hours, the planes which are most at risk of conflict are those >where one or the other is within a couple of compass points >of flying into the sun. There are times, when in spite of ASF video >tapes, it is just damned hard to keep up a normal scan. > >Therefore, on a northerly or southerly heading, you are in a better >position much >of the time, to 'see and avoid.' > >I generally try to arrive over things like VORs at the 'right' altitude. >They are >danger zones in any case. Truth to tell, I try to avoid arriving over VORs at >all these days. For VFR use, I try to utilize alternate check points, like >intersections, which are not so much used by my VFR brethren at VFR >altitudes. Since I navigate via GPS, I'm not tied to the VOR system except >for sentimental reasons anyway. > >So to actually ANSWER the question, try and plan the flight so that you >keep to the right altitudes insofar is practical. Maybe pick waypoints that >eliminate some of the ambiguity (remember how you discovered that VOR-to-VOR >deviations from the rhumb line didn't add that much distance?). Then fly >the flight and keep your eyes peeled. > >Greg > >At 08:19 PM 1/28/01 -0800, you wrote: >>----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any >>advice in this forum.]---- >> >>Paul, >> >>Thanks for asking that. It's something I have started to wonder about >>myself, not that I'll be ready to go off by myself for awhile. However >>since I've been going on longer flights with my buddy Jim, I have been >>thinking about new (for me) things. I can hardly wait to see the answers >>you get. >> >>Spook >> >> >>On Sun, 28 Jan 2001, Paul Anton wrote: >> >> > >> > Here's a serious question. Where I live, is seems that most of my X >> country >> > is >> > north and south. How do you guys handle the required cruising >> altitudes when >> > your >> > compass reads 179 for a while and 181 the next minute. I could stay lower >> > and avoid the issue, but by going higher I have smoother air and better >> > economy, plus more time >> > if the fan quits working. >> > >> > The reg is pretty specific if your course is 179 then it's 3500-5500 >> etc you >> > turn 1 degree >> > to 180 and it's 4500-6500, etc. >> > >> > Of course I guess I could say I'm still climbing no matter what my >> altitude >> > is. With an >> > Ercoupe they would probably believe me. >> > >> > Cheers: >> > >> > Paul >> > N2273H >> >>__________________________________________________ >>To unsubscribe from this list please send >>mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >>____________________________________________________________ >>T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less. >>Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose. >>http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01 __________________________________________________ To unsubscribe from this list please send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________________________ T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less. Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose. http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01
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