Chris, I'm with you on this.

I believe this whole issue of a BRG display is a legacy from the early days of GPS units. Prior to the advent of moving map displays, a BRG display was the ONLY way a GPS unit could provided navigational guidance. Then as technology progressed and moving map displays became the norm, the BRG display just got carried over because, either no one gave any consideration as to whether or not it was still required, or they were reluctant to drop something that had been the GPS's raison d'etre for so long. Then SD comes along, with their 'clean slate -- nothing is sacred' approach, resulting in (to quote a well known advert for a certain alcoholic beverage) 'probably the best GPS software in the world' and getting better with every release. I firmly believe that the competition continues to maintain the anachronism of a BRG display, only because 'that's the way it's always been done.' 


Mike
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Skypainter - I'm not sure if you are a pilot or not, but I have to tell you that it is complete nonsense to suggest that the likes of Garmin, Rockwell Collins, Bendix King and every aviation GPS made retains Bearing information because that's the way it's always been done! Of course not!!

Tim Dawson - I don't think anyone is necessarily asking for a permanent display of BRG. The sensible approach would be to include it  as an option within the Instruments menu. Users can then choose to display it (along with GS, ETA XT etc) or choose not to display it!  Does that make sense?

Timwatson -- Just for the record, I started learning to fly in 1963 on Tiger Moths at Fairoaks, got my licence (eventually) in 1969 and I hold IMC, Night and Aerobatic ratings. As you will realise, GPS was a distant dream, and more the stuff of science fiction when I started flying, so I have seen it progress from its clunky beginnings to the current state of the art offerings. In addition to using SD, I also own, and still use (ocasionally), a Bendix King Skymap IIIc, so I'm not without some appreciation of these matters.

Mike
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+1. It is already shown on the DI instrument so someone must have felt it was a good idea. However it's just not in an ideal colour, in an ideal size and an ideal place on the screen to be as useful as it could be. As the TRK M instrument has no 'second function' (tap to change) then why not just pop it under there so if we want it, we can toggle between TRK M (which is the magenta line track and we may be WELL off that) and BRG which will give a rough steer to the waypoint. 

Sorry for digging up an old thread, but something occurred to me as I read through it. Just a little idea.

If one deviates significantly (whatever that might be) from the route, wouldn't it be nice if a rubber band similar to the normal route legs popped up between the aircraft and the next waypoint? A dynamic track to next point, if you will. Give it a different colour, but maybe let it keep the 'click for distance and direction' property.

What do you think?