Picture yourself in the cockpit counting on your eyeballs to keep you clear of thunderstorms. Theres a buildup ahead and youve got to ask for a diversion. But how many degrees? You dont have a pretty cockpit display with the weather today, so youll be estimating.You can get a good estimate just using your binocular vision. Hold a raised finger at arms length and sight across that finger first with only one eye and then the other eye. Your finger displaces about 10 degrees. So if you put your raised finger between you and the storm with your right eye only and then look with only your left eye, the new position of your finger shows where a 10-degree turn to the right would take the airplane. In this way, you can measure 10-degree chucks of heading change against the view outside-and then confidently ask ATC for 30 right.
Pilots can estimate 10-degree heading changes by holding a raised finger at arm's length and alternately sighting with one eye then the other.
To increase accuracy, calculate a precise distance (interpupillary distance multiplied by 5.67) at which to hold a finger or pencil.
This binocular vision technique enables pilots to confidently request specific angle diversions (e.g., "30 right") from air traffic control without modern weather displays.
Picture yourself in the cockpit counting on your eyeballs to keep you clear of thunderstorms. There’s a buildup ahead and you’ve got to ask for a diversion. But how many degrees? You don’t have a pretty cockpit display with the weather today, so you’ll be estimating.
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