Vectors

Jammyc

Hi, im a newbie.
I was wondering what the hell vectors are in relation to avation? Could someone explain please?

I apologise if this is incredibly simple or annoying to explain.:D

magicianz

Im only speculating but it think it goes like this basically, take landing an aircraft for example, think back to your days of maths in school. Triangles. The vector of the landing aircraft would be the hypotenuse, there wud be a horizontal line and a line perpendicular. The vector wud be the hypotenuse. Cept it wud have to be in 3D ofc. So its basically the direction, velocity, descent/ascent degrees, and such. Bad example really but hope you see what im on about! Everyone feel free to rip me to shreds :-)

pclancy

Yes I think you're correct with a description of a vector in terms of maths or physics.... it has a few meanings. Usually in aviation terms the word vector is a compass heading given to an aircraft to turn to. EG: "Shamrock 144, turn left heading 020". This means the aircraft turns until "020" shows up on the compass or heading indictor. Vector basically means the "command" or direction. A pilot might call up air traffic control and ask for a vector to join the approach path for a runway at an airport.

I think in the US and sometimes in UK they use the actual word vector on the radio ie "Virgin 255 vector 120 and join the ILS". I have had a few beers though.

ian_m

pclancy wrote: »

I think in the US and sometimes in UK they use the actual word vector on the radio ie "Virgin 255 vector 120 and join the ILS". I have had a few beers though.

and if you hear the captain say I have had a few beers then you have a serious vector....

:pac::pac:

Steyr

ian_m wrote: »

and if you hear the captain say I have had a few beers then you have a serious vector....

:pac::pac:

Yup kick the Captain out and 1st Officer and its your turn to fly!:pac:

diverdriver

This explains everything!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15XlSbGzGTk

What's our vector, Victor?

In Maths, a vector has both magnitude and direction. Replace the term magnitude with speed and a vector would be 300 degrees at 120 knots. Using the term vector in R/T isn't strictly accurate unless a speed is specified. But it's used anyway. So pilots receive radar vectors from ATC. The term isn't universally used. You're more likely to be told to simply take up a heading. Or just plain old: 'Turn to 330'.

In navigation if you draw a line on the chart, it is in effect a vector in that is has distance and direction. You don't have to be a maths expert to navigate though. That's what navigation computers are for:cool:

Jammyc

diverdriver wrote: »

This explains everything!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15XlSbGzGTk

What's our vector, Victor?

Haha, lovely thanks.

Roger Rodger...Huh?:cool: