[OSM-talk] Route/flight tag

Simon Hewison simon at zymurgy.org
Tue Nov 28 09:41:08 GMT 2006


bvh wrote:
> On Tue, Nov 28, 2006 at 01:18:34AM +0000, Paul Youlten wrote:
>> Just by chance I am flying from London Gatwick to Alicante (Spain) 
>> tomorrow evening and was thinking of tracking the flight (2hrs 15 mins) 
>> with my GPS receiver. I will try to get a window seat and put my 
>> receiver against it - maybe cover the LEDs with tape (don't want to 
>> worry the flight crew)... Has anyone else tried this? hints? tips?
> 
> Not sure how much this is worth it. Due to circumstances, flights
> on the same route can differ substantially. What would be more
> valuable is information about corridors, no fly zones
> etc... But these have to come from official maps and I am not
> sure what the copyright status of those would be?

Indeed, any pilot flying MUST be carrying the latest official charts for the 
flight in question. There are typically two sets of charts - VFR (Visual 
Flight Rules) charts, which are the ones typically used by private pilots, 
and it documents things that you are likely to see in flight, as well as the 
various controlled and restricted airspace, navigation aids, danger areas 
and the like, and IFR chart (instrument flight rules), which is geared up 
towards airliners and the like who fly above/in the clouds, and are more 
interested in airways, reporting points and the like.

Whilst private pilots regularly complain of the cost of keeping up to date 
charts in the flight bag, especially if they get re-issued more often than 
annually, no sensible pilot would think of using a chart that isn't using 
official data. Even if the charts cost £15 each, it's probably one of the 
cheapest expenses that a private pilot has.

Most airliners fly most of the route on auto-pilot, so the track taken would 
be boring; that said, they do deviate from their planned course in flight, 
especially on approach when they may have to stack; or the pilot could 
request routing around thunderstorms.

If you're going to be using a GPS in-flight, best try to talk to the cabin 
crew (and/or pilots) on boarding stating your intention. They will probably 
have no problem at all with it, but might want you to have the GPS switched 
off during take-off and landing phases of flight (the same rules as laptops).

The official maps issued in the UK by the CAA use Ordnance Survey base map 
data. When flying, it's essential to know that you're safely above any known 
feature; the CAA have a list of "obstacles" like masts, tethered balloons, 
tall buildings and the like, and the Ordnance Survey have very accurately 
surveyed details of those nasty cumulus granitus clouds (also known as 
mountains). The best we have for elevation data is SRTM, which isn't really 
brilliant when it comes to obstacles like masts.

So, in summary, yes, by all means take your GPS, and use it (with 
permission), but I don't think that you are actually benefiting anyone by 
publishing it as part of openstreetmap.

-- 
Simon Hewison




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