Introduction 

Using the distance and bearing tool 

In this topic, you learn how to find the distance and bearing  between an aircraft position and other "objects" displayed on the map, such as weather masses or the official flight plan. 

We estimate that this will take 2 minutes to complete.

Detailed explanation 

In this example, you learn how to use the distance and bearing tool to measure the distance between an aircraft and a weather mass. You can also use the tool to measure distance to an object, such as a waypoint or navaid. 

In this scenario, the US Convective weather layer shows a band of weather signaled by a SIGMET and outlined in purple. 

HINT 

When you hover your mouse over a part of the radar image, N-Tracking displays more details about the weather system.

Click aircraft icon (SCX3007).

In your operational environment, hovering your mouse over the radar image of the smaller weather mass to the southwest. causes more details to display on-screen.

Review the information provided by the distance and bearing tool near the map scale line in the left corner.

The distance and bearing tool displays only when the Flight Details pane is open.

The distance and bearing tool, above the map scale, indicates the aircraft's position relative to that weather mass. 

Next, hover your mouse over the orange/yellow of the northern weather system to identify the location or "object" whose distance from the flight you want to measure. 

N-Tracking shows the distance and bearing of that weather mass from the aircraft. 

Look at another example: Flight SCX3041 is flying from airport KPHX to airport KLAL.

 Measure the distance and bearing of the aircraft from the OFP.

Click SCX3041 aircraft icon.

HINT 

For this example, the mouse hovers over the waypoint KATMN on the flight plan. 

At this point, N-Tracking calculates that the flight is 15 NM at a bearing of 227 degrees off the official flight plan.