Hover

A Hover procedure is a procedure in which the aircraft hovers in place for a fixed time, or performs a maneuver relative to the end of the previous procedure. This procedure can only be defined for the "End of previous procedure" site type.

The procedure contains one control point - the "End of previous procedure" point - which is either at the same location as the end of the previous procedure, or at the end of the hovering maneuver, if the aircraft performs one - as indicated in the diagram below.

Hover Mode

Parameter Description
Fixed Time / Maneuver Select to have the aircraft hover in place for a fixed time, or to perform a hovering maneuver. If you select Fixed Time, all fields other than the time field will become inactive.

Altitude

Parameter Description
Altitude The aircraft's altitude at the end of the procedure. Select the AGL (Above Ground Level) or MSL (Mean Sea Level) reference and enter an altitude in the specified units. The altitude is constrained by the lowest ceiling value of the active performance models in the current mission phase.
Final Altitude Rate

Select the altitude rate of the aircraft at the end of the procedure from the drop-down menu:

  • Automatic - the rate during the procedure will be maintained if appropriate for the next procedure’s maneuvers. If the subsequent procedure requires a reversal in the altitude rate, it will be set to zero at the transition between procedures.
  • Always Stop - the altitude rate will be set to zero at the transition between procedures.

Heading

Parameter Description
Mode

Select the Heading The direction that the aircraft is pointing. mode from the drop-down menu:

  • Independent - the aircraft's heading is independent of its translation.
  • Align with Translation Course - the aircraft will align its heading with the translation course.
  • Heading into Wind - the aircraft will set its heading into the wind.
Final Heading Select the heading of the aircraft at the end of the procedure. Select Relative or Absolute to define the heading of the aircraft from its previous heading or from north, respectively, at the end of the procedure. If you have selected an Absolute heading, specify a True or Magnetic north reference using the drop-down menu. Select Final Translation Course to have the aircraft end the procedure on the same heading as its translation bearing at the end of the procedure.
Final Heading Rate

Select the heading rate of the aircraft at the end of the procedure from the drop-down menu:

  • Automatic - the rate during the procedure will be maintained if appropriate for the next procedure’s maneuvers. If the subsequent procedure requires a reversal in the heading rate, it will be set to zero at the transition between procedures.
  • Always Stop - the heading rate will be set to zero at the transition between procedures.

Translation

Parameter Description
Mode

Select the Translation mode from the drop-down menu:

  • Set Bearing and Range - the aircraft will translate on a specific bearing and range, at a specific translation rate.
  • Come to stop - the aircraft will decrease its translation rate along the bearing and range at which it began the procedure until it comes to a complete stop.
  • Maintain initial translation - the aircraft will continue to translate according to the bearing, range, and translation rate at which it began the procedure.
Bearing The bearing of the hovering maneuver from the end of the previous procedure. Specify a True or Magnetic north reference using the drop-down menu.
Range The distance of the hovering maneuver from the end of the previous procedure.
Waypoint... Click to select a waypoint to define the bearing and range of the hovering maneuver from the end of the previous procedure.
Final Course

Select a final course option from the drop-down menu:

  • Translate Direct - the aircraft will translate directly as defined in the Bearing and Range fields.
  • Bisect Inbound/Outbound Course - the aircraft will translate along a bisecting line between the inbound and outbound course.
  • Anticipate Next Translation - the aircraft will evaluate the procedure ahead to determine the translation bearing it should have at its end point and use a translation rate that is appropriate for the translation distance of the next procedure.
Smooth Translation

Select the translation rate of the aircraft at the end of the procedure from the drop-down menu:

  • Automatic - the aircraft will use the Enroute procedure methodology to generate the horizontal flight path.
  • Always Stop - the aircraft will translate along a straight line between the start and stop point and will come to a stop at the end.
Radius Factor The Radius Factor is the maximum amount - expressed as a multiplier - that the radius of a vertical curve will be increased to minimize the flight path angle required to complete it. The full circles that correspond (or are tangent) to the start/stop curves at the extended radius may not intersect if the Radius Factor is set high enough. This parameter is a limit and may not actually be achieved due to the requirement to generate an appropriate curve sequence. You can adjust the slider or enter the value manually in the box, with the minimum value being 1 and the maximum value being 10.