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   Online Simulators
 

HSI
Simulator
v2

  
  This site now uses a Flash emulator called Ruffle. This is all done automatically on our server (no need to configure or install anything on your part). Note: Due to lack of keyboard and mouse pointer, MAY NOT BE USABLE WITH iPad or iPhone. Hasn't been tested on iPads with keyboard and mouse pad.  
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The HSI (Horizontal Situation Indicator) Simulator was designed to demonstrate the approximate indication that an HSI would display with varying positions of an aircraft in relation to certain navigational facilities.

Condensed Instructions: (printable version click here)

Select desired Navaid type and settings. Drag aircraft on horizontal or vertical panels to change the aircraft's position in relation to the facility. If North Up is selected aircraft heading changes can be set by positioning the cursor close to the aircraft on the horizontal panel then clicking the button when a "-" or "+" appears. If Heading Up is selected, aircraft heading changes can be set by positioning the cursor close to the navigational facility on the horizontal panel then clicking the button when a "-" or "+" appears.

You can now use the keyboard to control the movement of the aircraft. The following are the keys that control the aircraft:
 
** if key is held the aircraft will level at a rate such that the aircraft will overshoot the heading by half the bank angle when the key is originally pressed (similarly to the real aircraft)

IMPORTANT KEYBOARD CONTROL NOTE: The simulator start button must be pressed and the aircraft rotating-arround-the-globe icon must be moving for the keyboard commands to work. In addition, if clicking outside the simulator (like clicking on the browser scroll bar, text or any other area outside) the browser may stop sending the keyboard commands to the simulator. You must click on any blank portion of the simulator to allow the browser to transfer keyboard commands to it. You can also still drag and reposition the aircraft even if it is moving.

When Heading Up is selected, even though it may seem that the aircraft rotates around the navigational facility, the aircraft remains in the same position when changing heading. The reason for this is that the display will always show the navigational facility in the center of the display. This means that regardless if North Up or Heading Up is selected the aircrafts position will always be relative to the navigational facility.

General Explanation of Features:

  Compass Rose - Used as an aid to show the orientation of the Horizontal Navigation panel. It serves the same purpose
         as the compass rose symbol on IFR en route charts to show direction in relation to the magnetic north.

  To / From Region - Shows on the Horizontal Navigation panel the regions where the HSI flag will display
         To or From depending on where the aircraft is positioned.

  Show OBS CRS To / From - Shows a line indicating the direction of course "to" (blue) and "from" (green).

  Projection Flags - IFR approach plates have a profile view that displays the sideways vertical projection of the approach
         course. The projection flags serve to help visualize how and where this projection is made from the Horizontal Panel
         view. Notice how the aircraft moves on the Horizontal panel when it is dragged on the Vertical panel and vice
         versa. The movement is made in alignment with the projection flags.

  Horizontal Panel - Displays the horizontal position of the aircraft in relation to the navigational facility the same
         way an IFR en route chart or an approach plate's plan view would.

  Vertical Panel - Displays the vertical position of the aircraft in relation to the navigational facility the same
         way an approach plate's profile view would. It is used for several purposes:
            1. For the glide slope feature.
            2. The DME measures slant range distance from the aircraft to the facility. Being able to control the altitude allows
                you to determine its influence and consequently the error associated to it.

  Navigation Aid Type - Selects the type of navigational facility. Some features such as DME or glide slope will only work
         with certain types of facilities.

  Settings Section - Select and activate different feature such as setting wind, viewing wind triangle, zooming map and more.

  NAV information - Displays information such as heading bug, DME distance and OBS setting.

  Performance - When using computers that that may be slower this section can be used to improve speed and processor
         usage by increasing preset parameters such as screen refresh rate and reducing size of the aircraft trace path. On faster
         computers you can take advantage of having smoother animation and a larger trace path.


*Please note that DME may not be present together with localizer, back course localizer, LDA or SDA approaches. The DME distance shown is the approximate value a DME would indicate if such navigational facility were collocated.

CAUTION: The behavior of the HSI and other information displayed is approximate for illustration purposes only and may not reflect the actual readings on the HSI and DME.


   

Main New Features

 

1. Use keyboard to control aircraft movement.
(Easy to control so you can focus on navigation.)

 
   
     
  2. Execute holding patterns and trace them!  
   
     
 
3. View wind triangle in real time.
 
   
     
 
4. Fly on an ILS glide path.
 
   
     
 
5. Hide map so that you can test your instrument skills without the aid of the map.
(You can enable it any time to see your progress.)
 
   
     
  6. Built in chronometer that works based on simulator speed selected.  
   
 
 


 

 
 

   
 
  Navigation Simulator  
  Practice in our simulator specifically designed for learning the basics of instrument navigation. Try the Navigation Simulator, available for Windows PC. Now completely free. There is also an online version that runs directly on this website, and can be viewed on a Windows PC, Mac, or Linux OS. Note: the Windows PC version of the simulator has its own self-contained Flash, so it works without Flash being installed and is not subject to the Adobe Flash discontnuation / end of life.  
 

 

 

   
 
  Free Online Simulators
No installation required. These simulators are ready to run on your web browser and have a rich set of features. Practice basic VOR, ADF, RMI and HSI intrument orientation and execute holding patterns. Other simulators include pitot static system and altimeter errors. Click here to go to main online simulator page.
 
 
 
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