Flight path marker hidden

[jc2da]

I noticed something the other day while doing simulated IMC that doesn't seem right. I was curious what others thought about it.

My screen is always in 40/40/20 mode. I noticed that the flight path marker (white circle) was missing from my screen. Completely gone. I was really confused and couldn't figure out why it had disappeared. Then i finally realized that it was actually entirely hidden behind the altitude tape. THus with a strong enough left or right crosswind, the marker can get hidden behind either the altitude or airspeed tape.

That doesn't seem right to me. Esp during instrument flying, referencing the marker is a useful tool. However, if it has a high probability of completely or partially disappearing, then it might as well not even be there at all.

Anybody else find this strange? I am wondering how other EFISs deal with this issue?

Jae

 

[Edwardoc]

I use the 40/40/20 screen also and the FP marker is often hidden in crosswinds. Don't know what the answer would be to make it visible. :

 

[Dynon]

We've noted this too. There are a couple of possible ways to deal with this, but all have tradeoffs. We're thinking about it though.

 

[jc2da]

For further detail, I just posted up a screenshot showing the marker just hidden behind the 3 in the altitude. On the right is the G3x, to show as a side by side comparison. I was just curious how they compared.

Great to hear it is already on the radar. I am slooowly working on my instrument rating, and I have never stared and scrutinized at the screen so intensely. Thus, i am only now noticing these nuances which are easy to overlook VFR. Very interesting.

Another thing i noticed is that i have a much harder time referencing the horizon line in 40/40/20 mode vs. let's say 80/20 or even 100% mode. It would be nice to somehow increase the side to side view of the horizon. Compared to the G3x, you see that relatively speaking there seems to be more space between the airpseed and altitude tapes. Whereas in SV, the space between the airpseed and altitude tapes are a little more narrow.

I think my issue is that the horizon line is a thin white horizontal line (for level flight). However, the horizon line blends into all the same thin white horizontal lines all over the PFD such as around the altitude, airpseed, tape tick marks, etc. G3x does the same thing.

Something as simple as being able to change the horizon line to be twice as thick maybe could be helpful.

Also, you notice there is a margin of almost 10 or 15 or so pixels to the left of the airspeed. That looks great on 80/20 mode or 100% mode, but it would be GREAT to make the margin 0 on 40/40/20 mode where screen real estate is much more precious.

The VSI could also be made more narrow.

I realize that all these are 40/40/20 mode specific issues. I think somehow the 40/40/20 mode maybe deserves special treatment to try and preserve use of screen real estate, that isn't as much of an issue with the other modes.

 

[Dynon]

Definitely appreciate your critique. One thing I'll mention on the wind vector is that you're looking at the SV with a 20 knot crosswind against the other display with a much more straight on headwind component. I'm not sure what the G3x does with the flight path marker with a very big crosswind that would send it over way left or right, but the SV with a pretty much straight-on headwind will look pretty similar to the G3x in that picture.

 

[trevpond]

What a well written critique with plenty of thought being applied.

Dynon comment regarding a high crosswind is of course absolutely correct and it would be hard to have movable tapes to compensate, what would they cover then!

Looking at the Garmin, which is I believe is in the same case as The GPS 695/696 case, I know which EFIS I would rather have every time and it ain't the Garmin.

Good luck with your rating.


Trev ;D ;D

 

[jc2da]

The problem with the 20 knot wind is that that is a quite average type of wind we would commonly see. It looks like the marker might get hidden with as low as a 10 or 15 knot xwind.

The only thing i can think of wrt the flight path marker, is if the black background of the airspeed and altitude could be made slightly transparent, too?

Thanks for the update. Looking forward to what Dynon comes up with!

Also, ONE more 40/40/20 mode thing i notice in the side by side above, and which i have noticed while flying along, is that the "Field of View" of the SV syn vision, seems to be quite narrow. E.g., compared to the G3x, the G3x view seems to be zoomed out a bit, compared to SV which is zoomed in a bit.

I also notice this while flying near terrain. I will see terrain out the window still out in front of me at about 10 or 11 o'clock, but the terrain is no longer visible on SV and has slid past the peripheral view.

Is there any way to possibly customize the zoom factor?

 

[nigelspeedy]

One option that I have seen in other systems for the case of an off screen velocity vector/flight path marker is to put it at the limit of the display in the direction that it is hidden but show it with dashed lines rather than solid lines to signify that it is in this direction but is actually off screen.
This would probably work better in the 80% and 100% screens where there is more space between the outside edge of the IAS and VVI tapes and the limit of the display.
cheers
Nigel

 

[lindsayj]

I think it might help to reduce the opacity of the black background in the airspeed, altitude and heading blocks enough to see the marker. It disappears behind all three at one time or another depending on where the airplane is going in relation to its attitude so reducing opacity enough to see it could help. But if it (the marker) is important to your steering objectives, then you need to steer the airplane so that it stays visible IMO. Jack L.

 

[preid]

Jae made a good point, when he mentions "Also, ONE more 40/40/20 mode thing i notice in the side by side above, and which i have noticed while flying along, is that the "Field of View" of the SV syn vision, seems to be quite narrow. E.g., compared to the G3x, the G3x view seems to be zoomed out a bit, compared to SV which is zoomed in a bit."

If the Synvis was zoomed out a bit the marker would have a bit more room in either direction, since the view is slightly furhter out.
Jack also makes a good point about reducing the opacity.

I think I misunderstood your comment Jack about "if it (the marker) is important to your steering objectives, then you need to steer the airplane so that it stays visible" The sole purpose of the marker is to tell you where you are going to be, think of it as Track versus heading, so unless one compensates for a 20+ crosswind to get to a desired point one is going to end up left of right of that objective. Do you know of a different way to keep the marker visible and get to the desired point?

 

[lindsayj]

Do you know of a different way to keep the marker visible and get to the desired point?

No. Good call. The best thing for everyone to do is to ignore the last sentence in my post. YIKES! Jack L