Solved TACAN Tutorial
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Can anyone point me to a good, detailed tutorial on Ground TACAN (TCN)? I’ve been trying to better understand how to find an airbase using TCN but haven’t been able to resolve a few issues. I’ve read the Comms & Nav Book, pages 60 - 78. I’ve also watched a few YT videos including:
Unfortunately, the Book nor videos have helped with the issue I have.
Here’s what I do and the problem:
Take off from Osan
Head toward Seoul which is about 24 miles north
About 10 miles out from Osan, change the TCN frequency to 046x, ILS frequency to 110.9, and runway to 018 on the DED
Change Approach ATC to 363.9
Change HSI course knob to 018I think these steps are right. But the first problem I have is that the mile box in the HSI and in the HUD show the distance to Osan, not to Seoul despite changing all of the frequencies and the ATC.
Equally importantly, I continually end up coming in from the wrong side of the runway. Another words, if I’m told by the tower to come in at 018, I somehow come in at 198. (BTW, a few times I ended up coming in perpendicular to the runway.)
The Book explains (in a rather complicated manner for someone like me) the TCN procedure. I think, in effect, that I should put the bearing pointer on the HSI toward the 3 or 9 o’clock position, then wait for the CDI to begin dropping. Once the CDI starts to drop, I should turn the jet in a direction such that the bearing pointer, course arrow, and the CDI all point to the 12 o’clock position. Supposedly, that should bring me into the airbase in the right alignment. I think part of the issue here is … which direction should I put the arrow of the bearing pointer - the 3 o’clock or 9 o’clock position?? I would think that matters but how do I know which position I should set the bearing pointer?
So, if anyone could suggest a detailed tutorial on how to fly TCN better, that’d be appreciated.
Pandion
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@pandion First review this vid … runway “18” is not heading “018” it’s “180” … or roughly somewhere between 175 and 185.
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@pandion you can search for tutorial videos of VOR IFR flights, since the TACAN is a “type” of VOR (i will not enter in detail here, but… the procedures are basically the same)
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@pandion
Was your HSI in TCN or TCN/ILS mode ?
In the DED - TCN/ILS page did TCN show T/R or A/A ? -
Thanks, all …