Sun's True Bearing

[photofly]

While that may be true, one generally does not operate in True in the vicinity of the equator, it's more of a fairly northern (or southern) latitude thing. But for the sake of argument, you are correct.

We could check the error for a suitable choice of lattitude if we had a copy of TP784E. Anyone know where to get one? :whistle:

[Spandau]

Just out of curiosity, who did you fly for in the arctic?

[pelmet]

So why is this even a thing?
It seems to be a dusty, little used corner of aviation knowledge with a very specific target audience. And, if you do need it, it's more than likely that you'll be taught it as OJT by an experienced vet.

Just a continuation of a thread that someone else started. Besides, doesn't TC still want you to know this kind of stuff on the exams? Plus, as a moderator, I'm sure that interesting(even if mostly useless info) can make a thread more interesting. I would have thought you would want that kind of thing.

Besides....what if you end up disappearing in your 777(like that Malaysian one)right at the north pole, survive and discover a long range ultralight as part of the cargo. I used to watch the A-Team and think that I might be able to pull off a Howling Mad Murdoch stunt and save the day by reaching Alert or Station Nord.

[North Shore]

Sure, I guess, pelmet. My comment was more aimed at TC and their exams than the interesting, yet esoteric, stuff in the thread - couldn't they come up with material that's a little more applicable to a wider selection of modern pilots?

777?! Somedays I wish that I'd gone down that road...

[Spandau]

I wrote an AME exam not long ago that asked about how Omega worked. Gave me a good laugh, anyway!

[photofly]

According to the US Naval Observatory's website, the azimuth of the sun today at 1400Z at Pangnirtung, NU, at 66.14N, 65.72W was 139.5 degrees.

According to the Spandau method, the approximate azimuth at Greenwich at that time was 210°T, and at Pang therefore 210-65.72 = 144.3 degrees. Which is pretty close.

[Spandau]

According to the US Naval Observatory's website, the azimuth of the sun today at 1400Z at Pangnirtung, NU, at 66.14N, 65.72W was 139.5 degrees.

According to the Spandau method, the approximate azimuth at Greenwich at that time was 210°T, and at Pang therefore 210-65.72 = 144.3 degrees. Which is pretty close.

It's certainly not a replacement for having an astro compass and an almanac and two extra hands to be able to use them while you're trying to fly, but prowling around on the arctic coast in a Beaver or something and having nothing else, it will work reasonably well, at least well enough to get you home. I expect the almanac is even likely available as an App somewhere now. I'll have to look for it.

[photofly]

When I get a chance I'll try to put some limits on the error to this method; it would be interesting to know, for instance, the latitude above which it always gives you a heading correct to within say 10 degrees.

[Spandau]

That would be useful information. It's just a simpler way of expressing GMT in decimals x 15 - west longitude, which has been around forever. I should have prefaced it with "this should put you within about five degrees of the actual LHA".

[willan anable]

For the North Pole: Cage your DG BEFORE shutting one down - before Gen offline. Then after spooled up, BEFORE moving, un-cage. DG will know only one South. ... Just to be safe, should learn some Russian!