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VOR Intersection Navigation Tricks for Instrument Pilots

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Trick 1: Getting to a VOR intersection
I did some x-plane experimentation today and came up with a technique to get to arbitrary VOR intersection without having to draw anything. Try this exercise in a sim:

Set 2 VOR's for some intersection. Randomize the position and heading of your plane (without looking). Unpause. How long does it take you to figure out how to get to the VOR intersection? (this is exactly what my CFII did to me today over oakland). No cheating with GPS or map.

scenario (this is based off published missed for SCK ILS RWY 29R):
VOR1: OBS 330 CDI left deflected
VOR2: OBS 230 CDI right deflected
DG: shows heading 060 degrees.

Where the hell is the intersection?

Solution:
1. Look at VOR1 and pick the deflected right-angle heading where the CDI is pointing. It's 240 degrees for VOR1 (needle visually points at 240, or if you like math,  330 - 90 is 240).
2. Repeat for VOR2.
VOR1: OBS 330 CDI left deflected <== 240
VOR2: OBS 230 CDI right deflected ==> 320
3. Mentally overlay these two headings on your DG.
4. Start turning towards the closer heading (in this case right turn towards 240).
5. Continue turning 30 degrees past this radial, to 270.
6. Fly until you intercept the radial at an easy 30 degree angle.
7. Turn 60 more degrees to right and fly the radial until you arrive at your intersection.

This technique looks a bit like a hold pattern w/ cross wind correction. The cool thing is, by the time you've run through this exercise (only takes a few seconds) not only are you on perfect intercept course to the intersection, you've also mentally oriented yourself and know exactly where the radials lie relative to you. I'm practicing this in the sim by randomizing my plane's position and quickly turning to intercept the FIX.

I have not seen this technique anywhere, including Peter Dogan's book. If you're thinking "I use GPS", GPS doesn't always work. Still good to practice in sim for a few minutes.

Trick 2: Have I passed the airway?
You're cruising along an airway on VOR1, VOR2 is set to an intersection. You glance down and needle shows slight deflection. Have you passed the intersection or not?

Use the same 90' deflection trick from Part 1 to figure out your direct bearing to VOR 2. Overlay it on your DG. It will either lie directly at 0 degree, or at 180. This tells you if the intersection is in front, or behind you, respectively. 

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