Hello Folks, On page 28 of the RC3 manual the text states "Enroute checkpoint tolerance is 5 miles". On page 48 of the same manual it states "In order to be considered ""on the airway"" a pilot must remain within 4 nautical miles either side of the airway centerline". Before the onslaught of the FS type of so-called GPS's we all used two VOR receivers to aid us in maintaining VOR centerlines but this no longer holds for the GPS indicators that are now prevalent in FS. Unless we still use the VOR's as airway guidance tools, which the co-pilot does not, we can no longer be sure we stay within the defined airway as any significant crosswind can throw us off the airway. My question is that if we only need to be within 5 nm of a VOR, assuming a VOR is our FIX and in a straight line with a previous and following FIX on the same airway, then we could be outside the airway and still get credit and not reprimanded for the goof. Am I correct in my assumption here? I did notice that of all the so-called ATC programs I have used over the past several years, ProFlight98 was the only program to discipline you if you drifted out of the airway. As I am still reading the manual, very carefully this time, and have not actually tried to run the program yet will RCv3 ATC reprimand you if you drifted outside the airway during the enroute portion of the flight? I suspect not as the enroute requirement seems to be 5 nm. Hopefully there are some center controllers around that may shed some additional light on this subject.Thanks guys.Regards

Blias,>>...if we only need to be within 5 nm of a VOR, assuming a VOR is our FIX and in a straight line with a previous and following FIX on the same airway, then we could be outside the airway and still get credit and not reprimanded for the goof. Am I correct in my assumption here?:).Flying within the 5m enroute & 2m DP distances of a checkpoint for RC credit (and you MUST get credit) are an RC requirement Bias, but don't view "4 nautical miles either side of the airway centerline" (an FAA requirelemt) as a no-tolerance "you'll be yelled at if you fly 4.1m's..." issue, not regarding RC anyway. We'd scare alot of people off being that strict.Actually, at work..., oh me. If I were to react everytime I saw a pilot beyond 4m centerline... wow. I'd ask to go on comission :-lol.RC handles this in a far more user-friendly way. When setting up your flight, on the Options Tab you'll notice a Deviations setting box that says Heading. I believe a very liberal 15^ is default.This allows users to determine the extent to which they'll be held accountable to ATC for their flying on course. 15^, you're going to have to really screw up to get yelled at. If you turn greater than 15^ left/right of a wind-corrected heading towards your next checkpoint, you'll hear about it.I will tell you, I played with 5^ in developement. Ouch! That controller was having a really bad day! I settled on 10^. Time will tell you what setting you're most comfortable with. The '4m either side' is an FAA requirement, but not in the strict sense regarding RCv3. Use the Deviations/Heading box to determine what suits you best.

Hello Doug, My goodness Doug I really like what you say and that is RC3 gives one the option as to how critical ATC will be in reference to staying on the centerline of an airway. As I have always used VOR's to assist in staying on the centerline as closely as I can, single FS-type GPS's just can't handle it, I appreciate the fact that the option for tolerance is the user's. Great Thanks Sir for your answer and for including that option in RC3.Regards