Parallel Track function in GPS?

Roy Smith wrote in news:roy-
:

Yesterday I played with the parallel track function in the CNX-80 for
the first time. I was introducing the CNX-80 to a student and I had
planned a VFR flight via airways. My student (rightfully) questioned
the wisdom of an over-water segment, so we decided to fly that segment
on a 5-mile offset parallel track (it got us over land and was a good
excuse to explore a software function I'd never used before).

But, here's my question. Why is it in the box to begin with? Other
than the gee-wiz marketing value, is there any real practical reason for
it existing?

We use it offshore for approaches. We can do a parallel-offset approach to
a rig, offsetting the final approach course 1/2 mile so that we aren't
flying directly at the rig on final. It's also useful for search and
rescue, and likely for other utility uses. Not everyone flies spam cans
between airports.

--
Regards,

Stan

Stan Gosnell wrote:
We use it offshore for approaches. We can do a parallel-offset approach to
a rig, offsetting the final approach course 1/2 mile so that we aren't
flying directly at the rig on final.

Oddly enough, the CNX-80 only allows you integral mile offsets. AFAICT,
there's no way to do a 1/2 mile offset.

It's also useful for search and
rescue, and likely for other utility uses.

OK, I guess those all make sense.

Not everyone flies spam cans between airports.

I'm not completely sure, sir, but I do believe I'm being made fun of :-)

Roy Smith wrote in
:

Oddly enough, the CNX-80 only allows you integral mile offsets.
AFAICT, there's no way to do a 1/2 mile offset.

Not a very useful implementation, then.
I'm not completely sure, sir, but I do believe I'm being made fun of
:-)

Only in good fun. ;-)

--
Regards,

Stan

"Roy Smith" wrote in message =
...
=20
Oddly enough, the CNX-80 only allows you integral mile offsets. =
AFAICT,=20
there's no way to do a 1/2 mile offset.
=20

Do you HAVE to keep the needle centered?
---JRC---

"John R. Copeland" wrote in
:

Do you HAVE to keep the needle centered?

To fly an offset Offshore Standard Approach Procedure, yes.

--
Regards,

Stan

"Stan Gosnell" wrote in message =
...
"John R. Copeland" wrote in
:=20
=20
Do you HAVE to keep the needle centered?
=20
To fly an offset Offshore Standard Approach Procedure, yes.
=20
--=20
Regards,
=20
Stan
=20

Naturally, you are right about approach procedures, Stan.
(And that's exactly what you posted earlier about, too.)
I only had enroute legs in mind for using pointer offsets.
---JRC---