Jaap's Psion II Page

Airnav Professional Manual

Also available is what seems to be a slightly later version of the Airnav Manual.


AIRNAV
PROFESSIONAL

THE INTERAIR NAVIGATOR

The Air Navigator for the Psion Organiser


AIRNAV FEATURES :-


SET UP

If you are not yet familiar in the way in which the Organiser works, follow the next instructions to install the software and to set up your Organiser.

Note that to select items from the menu, you can EITHER move the cursor onto the item you wish to select, and press EXE, OR press the first letter of the item eg Q for quit. If two items in the menu start with the same letter, the cursor moves to the next item and you must press EXE to select the item you want.

Inserting the AIRNAV datapack:-

  1. With the Organiser OFF, insert the AIRNAV datapack into slot B. (In the back of the Organiser nearest the display). It will not work properly in slot C. The AIRNAV program will run in slot C, but it will look in slot B for the databases.
  2. Press ON TWICE. The first press turns on the Organiser, the second press automatically inserts AIRNAV into the menu.
  3. Press EXE to go into the AIRNAV software.
  4. You now have the first menu of the AIRNAV package.

USING THE PROGRAM

DATA VAR'N FUEL

In the first menu, VAR'N and FUEL are optional.

Fuel is used to set up the fuel on board, fuel used per hour, and reserve. If fuel data is entered, you will be prompted later to adjust the fuel remaining after a journey is calculated.

VAR'N (Variation) may be entered. If variation is not entered, any calculation concerning a VOR will be incorrect as VORs are aligned to magnetic north.

Selecting DATA will prompt you to enter the wind information after which you must enter your speed. Select either TAS, IAS or Mach number.

TAS is used directly in the navigation calculation. by selecting IAS or Mach number, the conversion is made to TAS.

IAS will prompt you for your flight level and indicated airspeed. The calculation to TAS is done at an assumed air temperature. If you need to change the temperature, reply Y. (The IAS to TAS calculation is done at the nearest 1,000 ft below. eg Flt level 245 will be calculated at 24,000 feet, the same as Flt level 240, and will only allow input of up to Flt level 500).

Mach number requires actual air temperature to be entered. The calculated TAS is used in the following calculations.

FROM/TO TRK/DIST NDB-HOLD

If you already know your track and distance, you may select TRACK/DIST and enter data as requested.

By selecting FROM/TO will enable AIRNAV to calculate the track and distance FROM one point TO another.

Select FROM. You may choose one of four ways to establish the FROM point.

  1. Select POINT and enter the name of a point in the database. A match will be found, press Y to accept that point or N to search for another match. All the entries in the database contain the lat and long.
  2. Select CO-ORDS to enter the latitude and longitude of your FROM point.
  3. Select FIX. You will now have to enter FIX1 and FIX2 and the bearings to those points. If you want to take a fix on an NDB, choose NDB and enter the aircraft heading and the relative bearing of the beacon from the aeroplane. AIRNAV will calculate the absolute bearing. When both FIXs have been entered, select CALC. AIRNAV will calculate your lat and long. This is now your FROM point.
  4. Select VOR/DME if you want to calculate your FROM point from a VOR with DME. You will have to select your VOR from the database in the usual way, enter the radial that you are on, and finally the distance from the VOR/DME. AIRNAV will calculate your lat and long. This is now your FROM point. If you use the reciprocal radial, your position will be wrong! Also note that as VORs are aligned to magnetic north, if you have not used VAR'N, there will be an error in your calculated position.

The TO coordinate CAN NOT be obtained by a FIX, but may be a point in the database, a VOR/DME or its lat and long entered.

When you have entered a FROM and a TO, select CALC to calculate your track, distance, heading, ground speed and journey time.

Press any key to obtain fuel information (only if you entered FUEL data). Note that it gives REServe plus the amount of fuel left. If your journey uses enough fuel to go into the reserve, it will display a message and beep twice. Press any key, and if you have any fuel left, you have the option to update the amount of fuel in the program memory. Press Y. This can be done as many times as you run CALC from this menu, each time reducing the amount of fuel left in the program memory.

NDB-HOLD

AIRNAV now has the wind information and your flying speed, so by selecting NDB-HOLD and entering the inbound hold direction (degrees 000 to 360), it will calculate the heading and times of the racecourse hold pattern.

TARIFF

If, at the top level menu, you selected TARIFF and entered a cost per hour, the cost of this journey will be displayed. You are given the option of clearing the previous accumulated cost before you update it with the new cost. In this way, the accumulated cost of a journey with any number of legs can be found.

SWAP

By selecting SWAP, the FROM and TO points are swapped over. For example, FROM BOURNEMOUTH, TO OXFORD becomes FROM OXFORD, TO BOURNEMOUTH. If you intend going on to a different destination, you then only need to enter a new TO point.

FIX

If you wish to find your FROM position from two bearings on VORs or QDM from an airport, select FROM and FIX. You may now take FIX1 and FIX2 and CALC your position. (Note that in taking a FIX, you CAN enter the reciprocal bearing, it does not affect the calculation). The option of NDB is given because bearings from an NDB are relative bearings. If you choose this option, you will be asked for the aircraft heading (Magnetic) and the relative bearing to the NDB. The program will calculate the absolute bearing. After you have entered FIX1 and FIX2, select CALC and it will calculate your latitude and longitude. Press Q to QUIT this part of the program. This position is now your FROM point, and if you enter your TO point, you can CALCulate your new heading and time to the TO point. If you had previously entered your TO point, there is no need to enter it again, just select CALC and your heading to your destination will be recalculated from your present position.

JOURNEY LOGGING

If you selected LOG and CREATE at the top level menu, a logfile was created and each time that you CALCulate a journey, you are asked if you wish to log that part of your journey. If you answer Y, you must enter the leg number up to 99. The program will not let you assign the same leg number to more than one leg. The journey details, heading, distance, time and ground speed are saved in the logfile. After all the journey legs have been calculated, you can view the logfile from the top level menu by selecting LOG and VIEW.

If you are using either a Psion printer, or an RS232 comms link connected to a printer, the contents of the logfile can be printed by choosing PRINT. If for any reason, it can not be printed, an error message will be displayed. This error number can be looked up in the Organiser manual to help find the cause of the error. Legs are displayed in leg number order.

!!!!!!! NOTE that if you are using the Psion printer or the Comms Link, when you switch the Organiser on, you must press ON/CLEAR TWICE to enable the printer/comms link. !!!!!!!

The logfile can be edited by using EDIT. This will allow you to DELETE legs from the logfile and to CHANGE leg numbers. When the legs are displayed or printed, they are displayed in order of the leg numbers.

When you have finished with the information, you should delete the logfile. The logfile is stored in RAM in the Organiser, not in the datapack, so the use of logfile does not use up the datapack. When the logfile is deleted, the memory that was used by the logfile is available for use again. This information is retained even if you leave AIRNAV and can be VIEWed on return to the program. The logfile information may be lost if the battery is removed from the Organiser.

Managing the Database

From the top level menu, select EDIT/INFO.

FIND LIST ADD EDIT DEL

Use ADD to enter details on a new entry to the database. Have ready the name of your data point (max 15 characters, example HURN) and its latitude and longitude (degrees and minutes only) and select ADD. When it says NAME TO ADD, type HURN then EXE. AIRNAV checks the database to ensure that no duplicate names are used. Now enter the latitude. It will only accept N or S and then requires FOUR digits. (Note that you do not have to press the shift key to get numbers because the program knows what to expect). For example, the latitude of Hurn is N 5047, so enter it then EXE. Similarly. the longitude must be W or E, and Hurn is W 00150 (note that longitude requires FIVE digits), press EXE. You are now prompted to add more details. If you want to add radio, runway and height information, press Y.

When you have finished, your entry is displayed line by line. Read it carefully and press any key. You now have the choice to accept that entry by pressing Y, not accept it and try again by pressing N, or Q to quit (give up!). If you press Y, the entry is permanently written into the datapack. It will not be lost when you switch off or even if you remove the datapack, but if it is wrong, it can be deleted by selecting DEL from the EDlT/INFO menu or altered by selecting EDIT. There is enough room on the datapack (UK version) for hundreds of more entries.

LIST can be used to look at all the entries in the database, only the name and lat and long are displayed. Use the up/down cursor keys to scroll up and down the entries. Any other key to get back to the EDIT/INFO menu. To see the full information, use FIND and enter the name (or part of the name) followed by EXE. The program will find a match on your input and display the information held in the database. If there are more points in the database which match your input, press Next to display them, any other key will return you to the EDIT/INFO menu.

Select QUIT to return to the AIRNAV menu.

WEIGHT AND BALANCE

The first time that you run this part of the program, you will need to ADD data on your aircraft and its fuel.

Select BALANCE from the top level menu to get the weight and balance menu.

DATA LIST ADD DEL

Choose ADD and follow the prompts to enter the following data.
  Aircraft data required:-
     Aircraft type or registration (eg C172)
     Fuel density
     Unit of volume used (eg IMP GALLS)
     Unloaded aircraft weight (without fuel)
     Unit of weight (eg LBS KGS)
     Maximum take-off weight
     Unit of length (eg INS)
     Unloaded aircraft datum to C of G.
     Minimum distance of C of G behind datum
     Maximum distance of C of G behind datum
     Distance of fuel tank behind datum
     The number of stations you wish to use
     Station 1's name eg FRONT SEATS
     Station 1's distance behind the datum
     Station 2 ... etc for all stations up to a max of 8

If your aircraft has more than one fuel tank, you can either enter the main tank as normal, and other tanks as stations BUT you will have to enter the weight of fuel in these tanks. OR you can calculate the effective datum to tank distance of all the tanks as though they were one. This approach assumes an even distribution of fuel in all the tanks.

It can not be stressed too highly that this information must be accurate and that the program is only a C of G calculator. The program calculates where the C of G is from the weight and lever information. The program can not take into consideration any "aircraft specific" information that may be available from the aircraft operating manual.

Note that if the station is in front of the datum, it must be entered as a negative number.

You are prompted to press any key to check the data, after which you can accept the data by pressing Y, and it will be stored in the datapack. If you have made a mistake, press N and try again. Also note that you are prompted to enter units of volume, weight and length in the aircraft data. These are used only as a prompt when data is entered. The program will not automatically do conversions and will give you the wrong answer if you use the wrong units.

When Balance is run by selecting DATA, you enter the aircraft type. The program looks up the information on that aircraft in the database. (If a match is not found in the database, you may use LIST to view the entries in the database). You are then prompted to enter the weight at each station and the results of the calculation are shown.

Entries in the database may be deleted by selecting DEL. All aircraft data may be seen by selecting LIST and entering an aircraft.

SEARCH

This facility has been included to allow a search of the database to find any point in the database within a specified radius of another point or lat/long position. NOTE that it takes approx. 1 second to check each point in the database and is therefore slow. It is recommended that the mains power supply be used when running SEARCH. If the Organiser switches itself off during the search, turn it back on with the ON/CLEAR key and it will resume. Press any other key to stop the search.

CONVERSIONS

Select CONVERT from the top level menu. You can select the conversion from the list in the usual way. If you wanted to convert from US gallons to Imperial gallons, select IMP/US-GALLS. The display shows the conversion requested and prompts you for Y or N. If IMP to US gallons was required, press Y. As we will convert US to IMP, press N and you are prompted to enter the number of US GALLS to convert and the answer is displayed after EXE is pressed.

When you have completed your conversions, return to the top level menu by pressing Q(uit) or ON/CLEAR.


DIRECTORY OF MENUS

AIRNAV - entry point into Airnav program.
QUIT - quit will always return you to the previous menu or will exit you from Airnav if you are at the top menu.
OFF - at various menus, you have the ability to turn off the Organiser. Turn it back on by pressing ON/CLEAR and you will return to the same point in the program where you left.
NAVAID - entry point into the main navigational calculator.
EDIT/INFO - entry point into database editing facility.
MORSE - entry point into morse sounder program, to escape from this program, press ON/CLEAR or EXE instead of a letter or number. Use the SHIFT key to get numbers.
TARIFF - enter the hourly cost of flying.
BALANCE - Entry point into the weight and balance schedule program.
XWIND - calculates the runway crosswind component.
LIST - list all of the database entries. Use the cursor keys to scroll up and down the list. Press any other key to return to the menu.
FIND - find a particular entry in the database. Avoid finding a single letter because it will find every occurrence of that letter in the database.
ADD - add a point in the database.
EDIT - update a point in the database.
DEL - delete a point in the database.
VAR'N - enter the local magnetic variation. (up to 45 degrees E or W).
FUEL - enter your fuel data (total fuel on board, quantity used per hour, and reserve).
DATA - entry point into next level of program and data entry.
TRK/DIST - if you know your intended track and distance, this part of the program will calculate your heading. ground speed etc.
FROM/TO - entry point into the part of the program that lets you input your FROM point and your TO point. it will then calculate your track and distance.
FROM - enter your FROM point.
TO - enter your TO point.
CALC - calculate your track and distance, heading, ground speed and journey time.
SWAP - swap your FROM and TO points. Use this either for your return journey, or if you want to go on to another waypoint, use swap and then enter a new TO point.
FIX - entry point into the part of the program that enables you to calculate your FROM position from two fixes on suitable beacons or other entries in the database.
POINT - choose a point from the database. You only need to enter a few characters eg BOUR for Bournemouth, a match will be found on any entry with BOUR in it which you may press Y(es) to use it, or N(o) to find another. If a match is not found, END OF FILE is displayed and you are returned to the previous menu.
NDB - Similar to POINT, but intended to find a point from the database that will be used as an NDB. You will then be asked for your heading and the relative bearing of the NDB. It will calculate the true bearing of the beacon and use it in the FIX CALCulation. It does not matter if you use the reciprocal bearing by mistake.
VOR/DME - calculate your FROM point from a radial and distance from a VOR/DME. You can not use the reciprocal radial.
CO-ORDS - you may enter the latitude and longitude of your FROM point or TO point.
FIX1 - enter your first fix details.
FIX2 - enter your second fix details.
CALC - calculates your current position from the two fixes and enters it as your FROM point.
LOG - allows you to CREATE a logfile, DELETE a logfile, VIEW a logfile, edit a logfile or print a logfile.
CONVERT - entry point into the conversion part of the program.
SEARCH - search the database for a point close to any other point. eg look for a beacon close to an airfield.

NOTE...... if you intend to add a large number of points into the database, it is wise to use the Psion power supply as adding data will reduce your battery life.

The world of AIRNAV goes from dateline to dateline but will not cross the dateline or the poles. If you wish to cross the dateline with AIRNAV, place a waypoint on the dateline at a convenient place. If this is not done, AIRNAV will take you the long way round!

AIRNAV has been designed as an aid to route planning and has been thoroughly tested. The designer reserves the right to make improvements without notice and takes no responsibility for the owner's use of AIRNAV. It is always wise to double check your results. The accuracy of the calculations is generally within one degree, one nautical mile or one Knot of any 1:500,000 map based calculation. AIRNAV will allow you to get a fix on bearings down to two degrees apart or up to 178 degrees apart.

If you have any comments or queries on AIRNAV. please make note of the version of the software that you have (the first thing to be displayed on the screen when you run AIRNAV) and contact Interair Flight Centre, Interair Aviation, Bournemouth International Airport, Dorset, BH23 6HA. Telephone (0202)581300. Fax (0202)581984. Telex 417123.


Weight and Balance Checklist

Aircraft type or reg
Fuel density
Unit of volume
Unloaded aircraft weight
Unit of weight
Maximum take-off weight
Unit of length
Unloaded aircraft datum to C of G
Minimum C of G from datum
Maximum C of G from datum
Distance of fuel tank from datum
Station 1 name
Station 1 from datum
Station 2 name
Station 2 from datum
Station 3 name
Station 3 from datum
Station 4 name
Station 4 from datum
Station 5 name
Station 5 from datum
Station 6 name
Station 6 from datum
Station 7 name
Station 7 from datum
Station 8 name
Station 8 from datum