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 standardized system called "ARINC 424 Leg Types," which are two-letter codes defining both the flight action (e.g., heading, course) and its termination condition (e.g., at an altitude, fix).
Many leg types terminate at "floating waypoints" rather than fixed geographical coordinates, as their location depends on aircraft performance (like climb rate) or environmental factors (like wind).
Advanced leg types, such as RF (Radius to Fix) for curved paths, are used in complex Required Navigation Performance (RNP) approaches and often necessitate specific aircraft equipment, pilot training, and operational authorization.
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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