Runway Heading

[Chaz]

When flying the runway heading, do you fly the exact magnetic alignment for the runway such as: Rwy 16 is actually 163 deg.-- fly heading 163, or would you fly 160?

 

[banned username 2]

When flying the runway heading, do you fly the exact magnetic alignment for the runway such as: Rwy 16 is actually 163 deg.-- fly heading 163, or would you fly 160?

I personally hit the "Heading Bug Synch" button when lined up with the runway... whatever it is I fly... a couple degrees either direction isn't going to make a big difference in the short amount of time you will be on that heading (vector)

 

[bigD]

I'd fly 160.

 

[banned username 2]

For those of us who aren't as "cool" as Falcon Capt., this is what we need to use.

Some day I'll teach you to be just as cool.... someday...

 

[bigD]

Dunno Chicaga - I do what Falcon does. Granted, the Duchess doesn't have a handy dandy button to push, but I just set the bug at the top of the DG when aligned and fly that heading. I mean really, even a slight crosswind one way or another is going to affect that heading a degree or two, so I can't imagine ATC is even going to notice, let alone complain about it.

 

[banned username 2]

When you fly in Europe, a lot of times they want you to fly a Runway TRACK (means you correct for wind) OR you just flip the little selector behind the heading bug control from HDG to TRK and it'll do it for you!

 

[bigD]

::smacks Falcon Capt::

Show off!

I've been trying to get the FBO to install a EFIS in the Duchess, but the cheap bastards won't do it! In the mean time, I'll have to continue being giddy when I get to fly the Duchess with the HSI.

 

[bigD]

So a correction is needed to maintain the runway heading.

As far as I'm concerned, when IFR, runway heading is runway heading. Doesn't matter what the wind is doing. I fly what's on the DG.

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

Flychicaga is correct as per the FARs

The heading flown should be from the 10-9 page of the JEPPS. I have had check airmen point this out and have seen others do the same while riding the jumpseat when someone else was doing IOE (Initial Operating Experience).

It is a minor deal, but more obvious when you fly an A/C that has a digital display on the flight control panel.

Jeff

 

[bigD]

Well it sounds like I need to hit the books then, doesn't it? I've never known anyone to comment on this before.

Learn something new every day!

 

[Eric]

QUOTE], if you have a crosswind the aircraft will naturally weathervane to a heading which is not runway centerline. This is because of the wind hitting the vertical stabilizer. [/QUOTE]

A little off the subject, but I was told in my CFI training that the plane does not weathervane into the wind after takeoff, only on the ground. If you were to keep the wings level and the ailerons neutral, wouldn't you have the same heading and begin to drift off the centerline?

As I understand it, the plane aligns itself with the relative wind, and the relative wind is opposite your direction of flight.

Anybody know?

Where's Avbug or Bobbysamd?[

 

[501261]

The actual runway alignment. Some runways have odd ball numbers to differentiate them from parallel runways. In LAX runways 24L/R & 25L/R at all on a 249, in TUS runways 11L/R are on a 123 (the nearby Air Force base uses runway 12).

So FLY runway heading means that, let the airplane drift, since the airplanes on the parallel are also drifting. If they say TRACK runway heading, correct for wind drift

 

[xjcaptain]

As per the pilot controller glossary:

RUNWAY HEADING- The magnetic direction that corresponds with the runway centerline extended, not the painted runway number. When cleared to "fly or maintain runway heading," pilots are expected to fly or maintain the heading that corresponds with the extended centerline of the departure runway. Drift correction shall not be applied; e.g., Runway 4, actual magnetic heading of the runway centerline 044, fly 044.

 

[172driver]

I agree with the previous post...you must fly the magnetic heading of the runway, as published, not painted. However, ATC doesn't always take this into account so you have to use a little common sense. If a/c are departing a parallel runway VFR, you may want to apply wind drift correction to avoid a collision hazard.