Real Pilot Question:

[Guest]

1) What exactly are Victor Routes, & when are they used? 2)Do jets ever fly IFR without them?3) When are jet pilots likely going to be asked to to fly to specific "intersections" (the ones that are labeled)?4) How do you fly to specific intersections on the 777 - do you tune 2 radios & wait for both left & right needles to be centerd on your PFDs?5) How real does Fly2 immitate the need to fly on Victor Routes & to specific intersections?Thanks as always.Chris Catalano

[michal 44]

>1) What exactly are Victor Routes, & when are they used? Victor routes are LOW altitude IFR routes (up to 17,500 ft). (in USA).>2)Do jets ever fly IFR without them? Jets usually fly on Jet routes (designated Jxx). These are HIGH altitude IFR airways. Jet routes are more direct since they don't have problems of navigating through mountainous terrain.>3) When are jet pilots likely going to be asked to to fly to >specific "intersections" (the ones that are labeled)? Don't know but ATC may theoretically ask a pilot to fly to any known fix. Your flight plan usually have some intersection fixes in it. >4) How do you fly to specific intersections on the 777 - do >you tune 2 radios & wait for both left & right needles to be >centerd on your PFDs? I doubt it. Not on 777. It is part of LNAV - your FMC will get you there. Much easier. Recall it from database by name, make it your active waypoint and there you go...Michael J.

[Guest]

Victor routes are designated airways at which a reliable navigation signal or minimum terrain clearance is designated.You can use them for filing IFR and VFR flight plans. In IFR if you designated NO SIDS or STARS to ARTCC they would issue you a clearance with Victor route designations for navigation.Sometimes you can request direct to specific destination once your in the air and ATC will monitor your aircraft. Vary rarely do they let you, they usually tell you to ask the next controller, and then the next controller will tell you to ask the next one,etc.At night, you always want to fly Vroutes for clearance obstruction. In an publish manual called an AFD they publish likely routes for flights from one destination to another via Victor routes.In airliners, the routes can be sent from ATC directly to a FMS via link before push. Flight plans are usually in the FMC before you even are given a route. All you do is verify the information....in the RJ at least. Never had a 757!Jets fly them, yes. All waypoint intersections are in the database for holds and compulsatoy waypoint(waypoint to report upon lost radar contact).If on a flight plan(IFR) you are required to fly them and do them according to filed unless ammended by ATC. What makes a pilot good is to interact with the FMS and do it at the speed filed. Flying a jet isn't so much about flying, it's so much about managment and stuational awareness.The only time we fly the RJ is takeoff and landing because we don't have autoland.We just received CAT III certification though. Maybe if our line wasn't cheap and installed it for us, but then they would have to get autobrakes too.I'm rambling......good luck