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OGN-R PilotAware / ATOM station avoid direct overhead transit.
« on: May 02, 2022, 04:05:30 pm »
My apologies if this has been discussed before.
For the last 12 months I have had an ATOM station installed and it works well. I have noticed that when I am flying I have a tendency to use ATOM stations as waypoints and fly direct from one to another. This also allows me to get a clear result on the Vector software when I am checking the performance of my Pilotaware. However there is a slight downside to this behaviour. When sitting in the garden I have noticed that there seem to be an increase in the number of aircraft transiting overhead the ATOM station. I don't mind but a couple of neighbours have commented on the increase but not yet made the connection with the aerials strapped to the side of our greenhouse..
I have also noticed that this increase in transits will increase the density of aircraft in the vicinity of the ATOM station and could result in a very slight increase in the chance of an airprox which is the very thing the PAW is intended to avoid.
When I was doing IR/IMC training my instructor always recommended that if I was using an VOR or NDB I should fly 0.5 miles to the right of the beacon. That meant there was a good chance of separation and an increased prospect of spotting any aircraft that was flying through the beacon overhead. So unless anyone can see a snag that I have not spotted could I suggest that we all try to fly 0.5 miles right of the ATOM beacon rather than direct through the overhead. (It will also keep my neighbours happy but they won't know why!)
Peter
For the last 12 months I have had an ATOM station installed and it works well. I have noticed that when I am flying I have a tendency to use ATOM stations as waypoints and fly direct from one to another. This also allows me to get a clear result on the Vector software when I am checking the performance of my Pilotaware. However there is a slight downside to this behaviour. When sitting in the garden I have noticed that there seem to be an increase in the number of aircraft transiting overhead the ATOM station. I don't mind but a couple of neighbours have commented on the increase but not yet made the connection with the aerials strapped to the side of our greenhouse..
I have also noticed that this increase in transits will increase the density of aircraft in the vicinity of the ATOM station and could result in a very slight increase in the chance of an airprox which is the very thing the PAW is intended to avoid.
When I was doing IR/IMC training my instructor always recommended that if I was using an VOR or NDB I should fly 0.5 miles to the right of the beacon. That meant there was a good chance of separation and an increased prospect of spotting any aircraft that was flying through the beacon overhead. So unless anyone can see a snag that I have not spotted could I suggest that we all try to fly 0.5 miles right of the ATOM beacon rather than direct through the overhead. (It will also keep my neighbours happy but they won't know why!)
Peter