Morse Code

[DaRedGaz]

Do real pilots learn Morse Code? I ask as im quite enjoying looking up the morse identifiers for VORs etc.

[Rogue]

At one time it was a requirement. Now it's a choice.

Morse Code (CW) is used because it broadcasts further than any other mode of the same power.

[Thogmar]

Originally posted by DaRedGaz:

Do real pilots learn Morse Code? I ask as im quite enjoying looking up the morse identifiers for VORs etc.

No most do not, that's why they print the morse code IDs on charts. It's only expected that you reference the chart and then listen to the signal. Always highly recommended to do so, to confirm the proper navigation signal. Of course many digital nav systems now just display the ID for you.

[DaRedGaz]

Cheers.

[Nightmare1964]

No, Morse Code is not required, but knowing the Phonetic Alphabet is.

VOR's are being phased out and decommitioned rather quickly in my area of the world, and I believe elsewhere as well

[SteveFSX/P3D]

Originally posted by Nightmare:

No, Morse Code is not required, but knowing the Phonetic Alphabet is.

VOR's are being phased out and decommitioned rather quickly in my area of the world

They won't be in FSX though :-) .... that's good because it's more interesting than using GPS in my opinion.

[Nightmare1964]

Originally posted by Steve Mak:

Originally posted by Nightmare:

No, Morse Code is not required, but knowing the Phonetic Alphabet is.

VOR's are being phased out and decommitioned rather quickly in my area of the world

They won't be in FSX though :-) .... that's good because it's more interesting than using GPS in my opinion.

Over time the VORs will disappear from the flight sims, as scenery files update to match the real life counterparts. I noticed a major VOR in my area was just decommisioned over the last chart update.

There are alternatives to GPS. Try flying using maps, dead reconing and 1 in 60's etc. It's fun stuff. All part of a pilots cross country training. Even though I do use a GPS, I find myself subconciously pinpointing my positions ground to map style. Pilots are required to have backups for navigating, so having different options available is a good thing. I have my EFB plus paper charts available on hand when I fly.

[APUtech]

Originally posted by DaRedGaz:

Do real pilots learn Morse Code? I ask as im quite enjoying looking up the morse identifiers for VORs etc.

We do, to an extent, but not directly or formally. When flying via VOR navigation the best way to be sure that you're tuned to the right VOR navaid is to look it up on either your paper chart or electronic chart on your tablet. Once you find the VOR freq that you want and dial it in your NAV radio(S) you'll notice a series of dots and dashes below where the frequency is displayed in the banner--that's the freq's Morse code identifier. press the audible button for that NAV radio and you'll hear that freq's Morse code pattern. As you're listening, verify the series of dots and dashes with the series printed on the banner below the VOR freq. If they match, then you're tuned to the right station. If they don't match, double-check your radio freq and make sure that you're looking at the right VOR station on your chart.


APUtech

[SteveFSX/P3D]

Originally posted by Nightmare:

Originally posted by Steve Mak:

They won't be in FSX though :-) .... that's good because it's more interesting than using GPS in my opinion.

Over time the VORs will disappear from the flight sims, as scenery files update to match the real life counterparts. I noticed a major VOR in my area was just decommisioned over the last chart update.

There are alternatives to GPS. Try flying using maps, dead reconing and 1 in 60's etc. It's fun stuff. All part of a pilots cross country training. Even though I do use a GPS, I find myself subconciously pinpointing my positions ground to map style. Pilots are required to have backups for navigating, so having different options available is a good thing. I have my EFB plus paper charts available on hand when I fly.

Last time I heard they are only reducing the amount in the USA for example. I'm not sure about the UK or other European countries.

[Nightmare1964]

Originally posted by Steve Mak:

Originally posted by Nightmare:

Over time the VORs will disappear from the flight sims, as scenery files update to match the real life counterparts. I noticed a major VOR in my area was just decommisioned over the last chart update.

There are alternatives to GPS. Try flying using maps, dead reconing and 1 in 60's etc. It's fun stuff. All part of a pilots cross country training. Even though I do use a GPS, I find myself subconciously pinpointing my positions ground to map style. Pilots are required to have backups for navigating, so having different options available is a good thing. I have my EFB plus paper charts available on hand when I fly.

Last time I heard they are only reducing the amount in the USA for example. I'm not sure about the UK or other European countries.

I'm just speaking for Australia. I have seen several write ups from CASA to this effect. I think they are aiming to be finished in about 12 months.

The VOR guage is still useful at major airports, if they have ILS.

[TextRich]

According to the American FAA, they are only reducing the number of VORs in most of the country to save on operating costs. The preference is GPS navigation but they want a backup land-based system in case GPS doesn't work. Their goal is to have VORs and (preferred) VOR-DMEs no more than 77 nm from any plane in any given location in the American airspace. They have a preference of keeping VORs at or near airports to reduce operating costs and to facilitate emergency navigation/landing. I imagine it is the same situation for Australia and other countries.

Don't expect VORs to go away completely anytime soon. Maps and dead reckoning are not that useful for airliners and night flyers.

[SteveFSX/P3D]

Originally posted by BF Bullpup:

According to the American FAA, they are only reducing the number of VORs in most of the country to save on operating costs. The preference is GPS navigation but they want a backup land-based system in case GPS doesn't work. Their goal is to have VORs and (preferred) VOR-DMEs no more than 77 nm from any plane in any given location in the American airspace. They have a preference of keeping VORs at or near airports to reduce operating costs and to facilitate emergency navigation/landing. I imagine it is the same situation for Australia and other countries.

Don't expect VORs to go away completely anytime soon. Maps and dead reckoning are not that useful for airliners and night flyers.

That's good to know - and makes sense in the event of Satellite problems. I like using them so hopefully they will be useable in our future sims.

[TextRich]

I agree with you Steve Mak that it is much more fun to navigate using VOR-to-VOR rather than GPS. If I am in a hurry I'll use GPS but when I have more free time VOR navigation with an ILS landing is so much more satisfying. I don't fly in real life (yet), but I imagine real-life pilots would prefer GPS because a straight line burns less fuel, which in turn burns less $$$.

[Nightmare1964]

Originally posted by BF Bullpup:

I agree with you Steve Mak that it is much more fun to navigate using VOR-to-VOR rather than GPS. If I am in a hurry I'll use GPS but when I have more free time VOR navigation with an ILS landing is so much more satisfying. I don't fly in real life (yet), but I imagine real-life pilots would prefer GPS because a straight line burns less fuel, which in turn burns less $$$.

Hehehe, straight line, yeah right, the wind tends to push you off course despite your best efforts to hold a GPS or VOR track. even though you have that heading on the GPS or VOR it does not allow for wind drift. With a flight computer you can calculate how much you need to adjust your heading into the wind to follow the track. Also the wind tends to be different at different altitudes, so the choice of altitudes along your route would affect your fuel burn more than folowing a VOR Vector.

[LeadCatcher]

You are still flying a "straight line" with a crab angle to correct for wind. :-). Easy to calculate correct crab angles from the VOR needle drift without a flight calculator, but I agree, fuel burn will affected more by altitude and amount of head, tail or crosswind to your course. Proper leaning of your mixture for altitude is critical as well.

[APUtech]

Originally posted by LeadCatcher:

You are still flying a "straight line" with a crab angle to correct for wind. :-). Easy to calculate correct crab angles from the VOR needle drift without a flight calculator, but I agree, fuel burn will affected more by altitude and amount of head, tail or crosswind to your course. Proper leaning of your mixture for altitude is critical as well.

Excellent point, LeadCatcher! Calculating WCA is a critical skill that with practice, can be done w/o E6B (though I still use mine during a flight). I level my wings and stabilize the airplane, then let go the controls to see where the wind pushes me, for a short while.I note the change of direction, calculate the amount in degrees I've moved and adjust my crab accordingly. It took me a while to develop that skill, but a pilot who's flown enough in cross/tailwinds should be able to do it automatically w/o thinking about it, if their Situational Awareness is sharp.

But I still keep my E6B handy! ;-)