When you hear "track", is it always "magnetic track", "true track", or what?

by Guest274  | earlier | Views: 25 | Answers / Discussions: 7
When you hear "track", is it always "magnetic track", "true track", or what?
 Sort By: Date  |  Rating
Guest4090
Guest4090
earlier

Track is the ground track, no matter what units it is measured with.



A celestial line of position is typically measured and labeled in degrees from True North. But the pilot tracking along it would reference his Magnetic heading instruments.


Guest2206
Guest2206
earlier

Well in helicopters when I say I'm following a track its normally a "Twain Twack".



IFR= I Follow Roads



(Rotorwing humor)


Guest8573
Guest8573
earlier

Your track over the ground is almost always stated in relation to magnetic direction. Even though you plan a true course, you convert it to a magnetic course because you fly with a magnetic compass, and if you happen to be tracking a VOR radial, that is also based on magnetic direction. Your track over the ground is also magnetic as far as ATC or your GPS is concerned. The GPS actually calculates your true track but converts it to magnetic so it is meaningful to you in the airplane. If ATC gives you a magnetic heading and they see that you are not tracking in exactly the direction they want (due to wind), they'll have you alter course X degrees left or right.


Guest9182
Guest9182
earlier

In the US, tracking is meant to mean you are flying a radial from a navaid, with correcting for wind drift. Homeing is just constantly adjusting your flight to "home"into a station. This was more common with ADF Navigation with NDB signals.



Magnetic tracking is flying a magnetic heading, such as on IFR flights following VOR to VOR.



True tracking is flying a true course on VFR true course.


Guest2200
Guest2200
earlier

nope its not always. it can mean ether .(how about grid track as well )



when you say degrees its good airmanship to always say which clears up any confusion deg.mag. deg.true. deg.grid.


Guest7611
Guest7611
earlier

true north and magnetic north are not the same. the deviation is listed on sectional charts.


Guest3832
Guest3832
earlier

It is either or and is usually identified as such.



Generally aircraft are navigated by magnetic track but here in Canada in Northern Domestic Airspace we use true tracks because of the unreliability of compasses close to the magnetic pole.


Answer the Question

When you hear "track", is it always "magnetic track", "true track", or what?

Enter the text you see in the image or reload
You are logged in from: 38.107.191.90
Subscribe for Updates
Enter your email to subscribe for MaybeNow updates on this topic
 

Become a Guide

Share your knowledge and help people by answering questions.

Guides

mary ann corsame
mary ann corsame
10 Points | 0 Discussions
rubi mendija
rubi mendija
10 Points | 0 Discussions
marhollifield
marhollifield
10 Points | 0 Discussions
Aiman Varma
Aiman Varma
30 Points | 4 Discussions
Expertise: Ab Workouts, Exercise, Ab Training, Fitness training, health, biceps, triceps, home based workouts, crunches, waist, lov...
bolo
bolo
10 Points | 0 Discussions
When you hear "track", is it always "magnetic track", "true track", or what? posted in . . .