Finding the Airport

[Pato]

I seem to have trouble finding the airport. I though if I set-up a flight using the GPS and followed the track I would at least see the airport when I arrived. Planning a flight to Nelson the GPS said the heading was 232degrees but alas I had trouble finding the airport when I arrived. Perhaps I am not reading the GPS correctly. Any help or suggestions appreciated. Does this happen to all newbies of just me?.
Pat.

[Brennanx]

Umm are you zooming in so you know exactly the point the airport is ? and also if you follow the line it doesn't point you towards the runway so you might miss it because you cant see the runway i dont really know.

[ooOO00OOoo]

Post a screenshot of you looking for the airport and gps at the same point. Then someone may be able to help more

[Pato]

Post a screenshot of you looking for the airport and gps at the same point. Then someone may be able to help more

OK will do that next trip. I think I am under the misapprehension that if you fly the correct heading according to the GPS and follow the red line it will take you to the airport.

[Brennanx]

oo Well if your on the line zoomed in and by the airport you should see it.

[Ian Warren]

Maybe time to learn some good old Navigation/Map reading fly by chart ? radio I do have info that will help you , beacons/airports/nav ... in A4 format .
Maybe PM , and send thru

[ooOO00OOoo]

Also look around in locked spot. i find that easy when on approach. I am learning to land on the centre line in virtual cockpit though

[ZK-Brock]

When flying VFR, my advice would be to use some sort of map (atlas or Visual Planning Chart) and fly it using pilotage.

[Ian Warren]

Modified along this , created 98 real flight chart ,Radio/Nav

NZFF team going thru , checking , updating . Maps cover New Zealand and have all Nav/Beacon/ILS for your safe approach to any airport .

[Pato]

Maybe time to learn some good old Navigation/Map reading fly by chart ? radio I do have info that will help you , beacons/airports/nav ... in A4 format .
Maybe PM , and send thru

Thanks for your very kind offer. PM on way. Cheers,
Pat.

[Pato]

When flying VFR, my advice would be to use some sort of map (atlas or Visual Planning Chart) and fly it using pilotage.

More good advice which I will take on board. Cheers.

[Jimmy]

Also click the "world" "map" from the menu bar, from that you shoudl be able to see your location and the airport.

For navigation have a read of the lessons included with fs9, print out the reading material then take the interactive lessons, radio nav, espeicly flying vor radials and stuff, can be hard at first but very rewarding once you can fly with out the need of the gps

Good luck finding the airport
James

[Draconian]

kuod just look 4 der Road sygns

[toprob]

Are you using FS2004 or FSX?
The thing which made the difference for me was the NZ Topo scenery. Being able to compare the area to a map lets me pinpoint where I am. Without the topo there's not much which is accurate enough to compare.

[K5054NZ]

I generally use dead reckoning (I think that's the right term?) - I seem to have a keen sense of direction so I just head in the rough direction and check the in-game map every so often in order to fine-tune. Normally I only do short hops like Ardmore-Wanganui, or Hood-Omaka, so I get to know the routes fairly well. Our grand country being as small as it is definitely helps.

I *really* should get into proper planning and consulting maps etc, but like Robin said, without topo there ain't much point.

[Pato]

Are you using FS2004 or FSX?
The thing which made the difference for me was the NZ Topo scenery. Being able to compare the area to a map lets me pinpoint where I am. Without the topo there's not much which is accurate enough to compare.

I am using FS9 and I have NZ Topo installed. Cheers.

[nzav8tor]

Im glad this topic isnt in the real world flying forum... hehe



Have a look at the airport info on the Map and check the runway vectors, this will give you a bit of a mental picture of what expect.
Nelson is 02/20 so approaching on heading 230 or so you will have only a small target as the runway is almost headon (ie not running left to right.)

Timaru is a tricky airport to spot IRL as are the numerous grass airfeilds around NZ.
New Plymouth too from memory.
Like Jimmy said, orientate what you expect to see with the Map but be careful you don't let the picture you see out the window suit the picture you expect to see.

This sounds like a contradiction but its important that you verify the features you see with a map or at least a good memory or else you can end up making your approach to a nice road which has a small river on one side and a hill on the other (for example) just as you expected to see but not exactly what the map shows.
This is something you learn during cross country nav theory and practicals. A common human error.

[G-HEVN]

Generally, the smaller the airport/airfield the more difficult it is to spot. Grass runways are worse than hard (can't get used to saying 'seal'). If you have a VFR chart, try to find some nearby identifying features that will help you to spot it - e.g. it's just to the East of a ridge line, or a bend in a road, or between river and railway line etc. Unfortunately the FS GPS is pretty useless for VFR navigation, so it won't help you in that regard (like a RW Garmin 296 would, for example).

If the airfield has navaids such as an NDB or a VOR, you can get a bearing by tuning them in, and a DME will give you the distance, so at least you know the direction to look.

RW, I've had trouble spotting airports (having a keen-eyed passenger often helps!), and even have trouble finding the mile of tarmac I call 'home' from time to time - in certain lighting it just blends into the background pattern of fields, and you have to look for other things and 'work your way in to it'.

[Pato]

nzav8tor and G-HEVN, Thankyou both for your helpful comments. Armed with all this info I should have a better success rate of finding the runway LOL. I think in real life aviation it is a lot easier to find the airport.
The NDB, VOR and DME are completely foreign to me at present but I will learn.
Cheers,
Pat.

[Ian Warren]

Hello Pat , Check ya mail , incoming Maps and data