I’m one that always likes to see if I can get more out of my equipment so I thought I’d start this thread.
For you GTN650/750 users out there, do you have any tips or tricks that help you get the most out of it?
I’ll start with two or my own:
1. Let’s say I’m flying from KHIO near Portland to KTIW in Tacoma, WA and have to fly IFR due to weather (what a shocker in the Pacific Northwest). I’ll assume that this day TIW is landing to the North so I’ll want to fly the RNAV 35 approach. I could file over OLM (Olympia) and direct to KTIW. However, if I do that and then load the RNAV 35, the GTN will show a route of flight from OLM to TIW and back to FESAS (the IAF) for the approach. If I do that, I’ll have no idea how far I am from FESAS while enroute and have no idea when I should start down. If instead I filed OLM FESAS KTIW and then load the approach, the GTN will show a route from OLM to FESAS to KTIW and back to FESAS for the approach. Doing it that way will let ATC know I’m probably going to want the RNAV 35 approach and also let me know exactly how far I am from the IAF while enroute for descent planning.
2. Let’s say ATC gives me a crossing restriction way down the road. Let’s say it is 30 West of GEG at 5000’ on my current inbound course of 104. I don’t want to forget it and miss it. I can create a “Temporary” waypoint at the GEG 284/30 and name it “AT 5000”. It will show up on the moving map and if I touch it, the name will appear reminding me of the altitude. While I’d hesitate to do so, if it appears the waypoint lies exactly on the magenta line, I could even insert it into my route of flight. I could use a similar technique for marking a top of descent point on my route and name it “TOD”.
Anybody else got any useful tips or tricks?
Bob