There is an old joke that has three people arguing over what is the smartest machine in the world. The first one says, The smartest machine is the electronic computer. It can solve any problem in a fraction of a second.
Aircraft navigators (GPS/FMS) execute flight procedures using a system of two-letter ARINC 424 Leg Types, where the first letter defines the action to be flown (e.g., heading, course) and the second specifies how that leg terminates (e.g., at an altitude, fix, or radial).
Many of these leg types terminate at "floating waypoints," meaning the exact geographical end point is dynamic and determined by factors such as aircraft performance (e.g., climb rate) or current environmental conditions (e.g., winds), rather than a fixed coordinate.
Advanced RNP (Required Navigation Performance) approaches utilize specialized leg types, such as RF for curved paths, and often require explicit authorization, specific aircraft equipment, and specialized pilot training due to their precise navigation requirements.
There is an old joke that has three people arguing over what is the smartest machine in the world. The first one says, “The smartest machine is the electronic computer. It can solve any problem in a fraction of a second.”
The second guy says, “The smartest machine is the jet airliner. It can fly to anywhere in the world in any kind of weather and even land itself.”
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