This program is intended to provide an easily accessible way of solving most navigation problems that the dispatcher may encounter in day to day operations. When the program is selected, the screen will display the various types of calculations which can be made with this program.
From the Command Line, select the type of calculation which you wish to perform:
Great Circle Navigation, enter <G>
Rhumb Line Navigation, enter <R>
Dead Reckoning Navigation, enter <D>
Great Circle Navigation
The program calculates the Great Circle distance and the initial true track between any two points on Earth. Initial Magnetic track angle also displays based on the magnetic variation at the origin. Given any intermediate longitude, it calculates the latitude of the track at that point. Conversely, given any intermediate latitude, it determines the longitude of the track at that point. If the Great Circle track cuts the given latitude in more than one place, both intersections are reported.
Only two entries are required: the origin and the destination.
Origin: This can be entered as an airport identifier (ICAO or IATA), as a waypoint, or as latitude/longitude coordinates.
Destination: This can be entered as an airport identifier (ICAO or IATA), as a waypoint, or as latitude/longitude coordinates.
Note: Use a negative (-) sign to indicate South Latitudes and East Longitudes.
Intermediate Latitude or Longitude: Enter either an intermediate Latitude or an intermediate Longitude if you wish to have the intermediate position computed. This entry is optional.
Rhumb Line Navigation
This routine calculates the single heading true and magnetic track between any two locations and the actual distance along the Rhumb Line between the two locations.
There are some minor restrictions which must be observed:
the track may not cross either of the poles
accuracy is degraded near the poles and on very short tracks.
Only two entries are required: the origin and the destination.
Origin: This can be entered as an airport identifier (ICAO or IATA) as a waypoint or as latitude/longitude coordinates.
Destination: This can be entered as an airport identifier (ICAO or IATA, as a waypoint or as latitude/longitude coordinates.
Dead-Reckoning Navigation
Given a starting point, an initial course angle (True or Magnetic) and a distance, this routine calculates the final position coordinates for either a Great Circle or Rhumb line track.
There are some minor restrictions which must be observed:
the track may not cross either of the poles.
accuracy is degraded near the poles.
Note: The following descriptions represent the typical access and privileges afforded to users designated as Dispatch Managers/Supervisors. Users with dispatcher privileges will have limited access to a subset of the screens presented.