Transition to Hover

A Transition to Hover procedure brings an aircraft from forward flight mode to hover mode. The procedure contains one control point - the procedure site - as indicated in the diagram below.

If this procedure is interrupted, the transition will be incomplete and the aircraft will remain in hover mode.

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.

Transition Options

Field Description
Transition into Wind Select this check box to define the course of the aircraft according to the wind direction.
Course If the aircraft is not transitioning into the wind, define its course from north; specify a True or Magnetic north reference using the drop-down menu.
Smooth Transition Mode

Select the transition mode of the aircraft at the end of the procedure from the drop-down menu:

  • Full Stop - the aircraft's translation and altitude rates are set to zero at the end of the procedure, regardless of the rates specified by the subsequent procedure.
  • Translation Only - the aircraft's translation rate is set in accordance with the rate at the start of the subsequent procedure; the altitude rate is set to zero at the end of the procedure, regardless of the rate specified by the subsequent procedure.
  • Translation and Altitude - the aircraft's translation and altitude rates are set in accordance with the rates at the start of the subsequent procedure.

Enroute Options

Enroute Options define the turning performance characteristics of the aircraft during enroute segments of the procedure.

Table - Enroute Options ParametersClosed

Option Description
Use Max Speed When Computing Turn Radii Select this check box to force the aircraft to maintain its cruise speed when turning, even if doing so will result in the aircraft making a turn large enough that it takes longer to complete than it would complete a slower, smaller turn.
Turn Factor The Turn Factor is the maximum amount - expressed as a multiplier - that the turn radius will be increased to minimize the bank angle required to complete the turn. The factor is applied only to turns that are performed enroute to the procedure's first control point. The full circles that correspond (or are tangent) to the start/stop turns at the extended radius may not intersect if the factor is set high enough. This parameter is a limit and may not actually be achieved due to the requirement to generate an appropriate turn 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.

Enroute Turn Direction

Enroute Turn Direction parameters define the direction that the aircraft will turn during enroute segments of the procedure.

Table - Enroute Turn Direction ParametersClosed

Parameter Description
First Turn

The direction of the turn made from the end of the previous procedure as the aircraft sets its course toward the procedure site. Select from the following options:

  • Automatic - STK's Aviator capability will determine the direction of the turn.
  • Turn Left - Specifies a left turn.
  • Turn Right - Specifies a right turn.
Second Turn

The direction of the turn made to achieve the outbound course at the procedure site. Select from the following options:

  • Automatic - Aviator will determine the direction of the turn.
  • Turn Left - Specifies a left turn.
  • Turn Right - Specifies a right turn.

Vertical Plane Options

Vertical Plane Options parameters define the flight path angle of the aircraft during enroute and arc segments of the procedure.

Parameter Description
Final Flight Path Angle The pitch angle of the flight path at the end of the procedure.
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.
Min Enroute FPA The minimum pitch angle of the flight path during enroute segments of the procedure.
Max Enroute The maximum pitch angle of the flight path during enroute segments of the procedure.