Entering a Flight Route

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Trip Planner can help create routes between airports. (PC)

Using the Trip Planner window, MENU > Edit, a pilot can create a flight plan to assist with in-flight navigation. A trip can be created from a mix of waypoints, Fix/VORs, airways and airports. To create a flight route:

1.	Add your origin airport by entering its identifier in the Airport box. The K prefix for USA region is optional. For example, enter KBED or BED for Bedford, MA.

2.	Press Add or the Enter key.

3.	Enter the next fix (Example: type BOSOX). Then click Add or the Enter key.

4.

Enter the next fix. Enter a Victor Airway or Jet Route (Vnnn or Jnnn) in the Airway box to avoid the work and errors of entering navigation fixes for a long route. This route can be computed by DUATS, recorded from a previous clearance (DUATS routes are not usually cleared as filed) or plotted on a navigation chart. If you fly VFR direct, be sure to check for TFRs and other controlled airspace. It is the pilot's responsibility to stay safe and legal.

5.	Save the route by clicking/tapping on the Save button when finished creating a trip.

6.	If on PC, transfer the trip and maps to the PDA using the procedure outlined in Exporting Maps & Trips.

Additional Trip Information:

You can review the route with the expanded Victor airway VORs and intersections.

The flight route table shows the entered fixes in upper case and the computed fixes in lower case.

Press (right click) on the Time or Distance columns to select Leg, To Go or So Far values to be displayed in the Time or Distance column. The column headers have + appended in So Far mode and – appended in To Go mode.

You can select one or more fixes to Remove. You can select one fix to move Up or Down in the flight route list. Look for heading inversions (course reversals) or large distances that hint the wrong identifier was entered or was entered out of order.

Click Save. The default file name will be start airport id - destination airport with the runway, if specified, e.g. BOS-JFK 22L.trp

To start a real flight, click MENU > Start, select the first fix and OK.

To start a simulated flight, click MENU > More Options > Points, press on the folder icon for the trip route and click Start Simulator.

Use this flight path for practice: BOS WHYBE V1 DPK JFK

The terminal procedures can be specified at this time for a Simulation run, but normally would not be known for a real flight until the aircraft is near the destination.

When you determine the landing runway, you can select the visual approach for that runway. The Merge point is 3 nm from the runway threshold and is only for reference in flight. The SIM mode uses it. It is not a navigation point.

Close to the airport in VFR, you should be looking for traffic, not looking at a computer. On an instrument approach, you must use your instrument panel, not TTGPS. An occasional glance at the moving map display to confirm your situational awareness can be helpful. It can help you detect that you are confused early enough to fix the problem or to declare a missed approach before doing something dangerous. The pilot must fly the aircraft and intelligently filter out all distractions. The sterile cockpit discipline used by pilots around the time of takeoffs and landings to prevent distractions applies to interacting with GPS navigator tools.

The Victor Airways are very convenient for long trips. For a short trip, say BED to ORH, a direct route is appropriate. For VFR flight, a long direct GPS route can be used. The pilot is responsible for avoiding restricted or controlled airspace. For IFR flight, uncertified GPS equipment can only be used for reference. If your flight plan remarks field contains "Have Handheld GPS", a controller might give you a heading to fly directly to a distant NAVAID.

Multiple Victor airways can be used in the flight route. Where two airways intersect at a VOR or intersection, the last fix on one airway will be the first fix on the next.

See Also:

Trip Planner Window
Quick Start Guide