----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----
Greg Bullough wrote: > > >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 > > Very good answer Greg! Only there seems to be a lot of pilots today that have never heard of hemispheric altitudes. Craig 2623H (retired AF navigator) > >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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