5.2 Database (Psion d). 5.2.1 Introduction. The database option in the custom section of the main menu provides input, display, and editing facilities for the navaid, airway, airfield, reporting point and VRP database files. 5.2.2 Operation. Upon selecting the database option from the custom section of the main menu (or using the hot key combination Psion d), you will be presented with a dialogue box that requires you to select whether you wish to input new entries or display entries that are already in the database. Pressing whilst this dialogue box is on display returns you to the main Acmenav menu. 5.2.3 Enter. 5.2.3.1 Introduction. If the action dialogue box is completed by selecting enter and then pressing , you will be presented with another dialogue box asking you to select which file you wish to work on. Pressing whilst this dialogue box is on display returns you to the Acmenav's main menu. The entry of details into the database is achieved using a series of dialogue boxes, each of which is completed by pressing . The contents of the previous dialogue box can usually be seen and edited by pressing to back up the display. The few exceptions to this rule are discussed in the following relevant sections. 5.2.3.2 Regions. To prevent the flight planning system from becoming confused about navaids in different countries having the same ident' and airways extending into different FIR's (as well as coping with a host of other route planning problems), a system of regions has been adopted. Region names are two letter codes that indicate the country (or area in a country) in which a particular navaid, airfield etc. falls. The naming of regions is entirely up to you; however, I suggest that you use the first two letters of the ICAO identifiers in the area in which the particular facility falls (this is the convention I have used for the supplied database). For example, I have used the region name EG for the UK and For France I would use LF. 5.2.3.3 Entering a reporting point. The only dialogue box that requires completing for the entry of a reporting point is the one that will be presented to you upon completion of the file type dialogue box by selecting reppoint. It requires you to enter the name of the reporting point (must be 5 letters), the region in which it falls (must be two letters) and its latitude and longitude (see section 2.8 of this manual for an explanation of latitude and longitude entry). Once the input dialogue box is completed, the point will be stored in the database. The input dialogue box will remain on screen allowing you to enter further points. Pressing whilst this input dialogue box on display returns you to the file type dialogue box. 5.2.3.4 Entering a navaid. The first dialogue box that requires completing for the entry of a navaid into the database is the one that will be presented to you on completion of the file type dialogue box by selecting navaid. It requires you to enter the name of the facility (maximum of 30 letters), the region in which it falls (must be two letters), and its latitude and longitude (see section 2.8 of this manual for an explanation of latitude and longitude entry). Pressing whilst this dialogue box is on display returns you to the file type dialogue box. On completing the first dialogue box, you will be presented with the second one that requires you to select the facility type, enter its frequency, and Morse code ident' (up to three but no less than two letters). Pressing whilst this dialogue box is on display returns you to the latitude & longitude input dialogue box. Once this second dialogue box has been completed the entry will be added to the database and you will be returned to the latitude and longitude entry dialogue box ready to enter another navaid. 5.2.3.5 Entering a VRP. The first dialogue box that requires completing for the entry of a VRP is the one that will be presented to on completing of the file type dialogue box by selecting VRP. It requires you to enter the name of the VRP (maximum of 30 letters), the region in which it falls (must be two letters) and its latitude and longitude (see section 2.8 of this manual for an explanation of latitude and longitude entry). Pressing whilst this dialogue box is on display returns you to the file type dialogue box. On completion the first dialogue box, a second dialogue box will appear that requires you to enter the name of the airfield to which the VRP refers (maximum of 30 characters). Pressing whilst this dialogue box is on display returns you to the latitude & longitude input dialogue box. On completing the second dialogue box the VRP will be stored in the database and you will be returned to the latitude and longitude input dialogue box ready to enter another VRP. 5.2.3.6 Entering an airfield. The first dialogue box that requires completing for the entry of an airfield into the database is the one that will be presented to you on completion of the file type dialogue box by selecting airfield. It requires you to enter the name of the airfield (maximum of 30 characters), the region in which it falls (must be two letters) and its latitude and longitude (see section 2.8 of this manual for an explanation of latitude and longitude entry). Pressing whilst this dialogue box is on display returns you to the file type dialogue box. On completing the first dialogue box a second one will be presented that requires you to enter the ICAO identifier, if the airfield has one (if entered the identifier must be four letters), and the airfield elevation. The elevation can be entered in either feet or metres. On completing the second dialogue box a third one will be shown that requires you to enter the QDM and take off and landing distances available for each runway. These distances can be entered in feet or metres. If a runway does not have a declared take off or landing distance, just enter zero for the distance for that runway. This entry dialogue is completed by pressing "n" at the question dialogue that pops up after the entry of the distances for each runway. To continue entering runway details, just press "y" when the question dialogue pops up. The final airfield entry dialogue box requires you to select the radio facilities that are provided at the airfield and enter their frequencies. Select the type of radio service and enter the frequency for each service available. This dialogue is completed by pressing "y" at the question dialogue that pops up after each radio service is entered. Once the last radio service has been entered press "n" at the question dialogue, the airfield will be stored in the database, and you will be returned to the latitude and longitude input dialogue box ready to enter another airfield. It should be noted that the radio frequency/service and runway distances dialogue boxes cannot be backed up and previous screens displayed and edited by pressing . 5.2.3.7 Entering an airway. The first dialogue box that requires completing to enter an airway will be displayed on completion of the file type dialogue box by selecting airway. It requires you to enter the name of the airway and the region in which it (or the part of it that you are entering) falls. Pressing whilst this dialogue box is on display returns you to the file type dialogue box. On completing the first dialogue box the second one will appear which requires you to select the first, and then the subsequent point types along the airway and enter their names or idents. If the point being entered is an NDB or a VOR, the name is the ident' of the facility (either 2 or 3 letters). If the point is a reporting point the name will be five characters long. If the airway starts or enters an FIR at a point other than a reporting point or navaid, select the FIR option. Another dialogue box will appear requiring you to enter the latitude and longitude of the entry point. Once this dialogue box is completed, the FIR point will be stored in the database and allocated a number. This number combined with the region name is then used in the airway listing (ie EG13). Continue entering the airway points by pressing "y" at the question dialogue that pops up after entering each point. Once the last point is entered press "n" at the question dialogue, the airway will be stored in the database, and you will be returned to the first airway entry dialogue box ready to enter another one. The airways input cannot be backed up whilst you are entering the routing; once you have started entering it you have to continue. 5.2.3.8 FIR. You cannot enter FIR entry/exit points directly; access to the FIR entry routine is the exclusive domain of the airways entry option. 5.2.4 Display. 5.2.4.1 Introduction. If the action dialog the box is completed by selecting display and pressing you will be presented with another dialogue box asking you to select which file you wish to work on. Pressing whilst this second dialogue box is on display returns you to the main Acmenav menu. 5.2.4.2 General commands. When display is selected from the action dialogue box, the first entry in the selected file is initially shown. Whilst the database file is on display there are some general key presses that perform specific operations: ESC-displays the first entry in the current database file. DELETE-deletes the currently displayed entry (after confirmation). LEFT ARROW-displays the previous database entry. RIGHT ARROW-displays the next database entry. MENU-activates the menu from which various functions can be selected. All the menu options can be accessed whilst the menu isn't activated by using the hot key combinations that are indicated in brackets after each option. 5.2.4.3 Displaying runway information (Psion t). If airfield is selected from the file type dialogue box, the take off and landing distances for the runways can be accessed by the hot key combination Psion t, or selecting take off/landing from the special section of the database menu. Pressing whilst the take off & landing distances are on display cancels the distances display dialogue. 5.2.4.4 Displaying airfield frequencies (Psion f). If airfield is selected from the file type dialogue box, radio services and their frequencies can be accessed by the hot key combination Psion f, or selecting frequencies from the special section of the database menu. Pressing whilst the frequencies dialogue box is on display cancels the frequencies display dialogue. 5.2.4.5 Displaying an airway's routing points (Psion r). If airway was selected from the file type dialogue box, the routing for the currently displayed airway can be displayed in its entirety by using the hot key combination Psion r, or selecting routing from the special section of the database menu. Pressing while the routing dialogue is on display cancels the routing display dialogue. 5.2.4.6 Searching for specific entries (Psion s). Selecting the search option from the record section of the database menu, or using the hot key combination Psion s, calls up a dialogue box that allows you to enter a search clue, find, and then display the next entry in the current database file that contains the entered search clue. The search is carried out in a forward direction from the current position; searches in the reverse direction cannot be made. 5.2.4.7 Displaying the last entry. (Psion l). Selecting last from the record section of the database menu, or using the hot key combination Psion l, displays the last entry in the current database file. 5.2.4.8 Setting the datum (Psion d). Using the hot key combination Psion d, or selecting the set datum option from the position section of the database menu, sets the datum position to the current entry. As confirmation, the name of the point currently stored as the datum will appear in the small window at the bottom of the screen. This datum setting will be retained even if you leave the database display and reselect another file type, however, if you go back any further than this (ie to the Acmenav main menu), the datum will be reset. This option is not available if airway was selected from the file type dialogue box. 5.2.4.9 Calculating a bearing and distance (Psion r). Once a datum has been set, and if you select the relative fix option from the position section of the database menu, or use the key combination Psion r, a dialogue box will appear giving you the true bearing and distance (in nautical miles, kilometres, and statute miles) from the set datum to the current database entry. Pressing whilst the bearing and distance dialogue is on display cancels it. 5.2.4.10 Changing the datum (Psion e). If you select the datum exchange option from the position section of the database menu having already performed a relative fix, the datum will be set to the point that was used as the "to" part of the fix. If this option is selected before a relative fix is calculated, it will zero the datum. 5.2.4.11 Updating a database entry (Psion u). Selecting the update option from the management section of the database menu allows you to update the currently displayed database entry. The same entry dialogue boxes are used for updating as are used for the entry of new points consequently, the same rules apply. Additionally, you cannot edit the following: Take off and landing distances for airfields. Radio services and frequencies for airfields. Airways routing points. FIR/UIR entry/exit points. 5.2.4.12 Compressing the database files (Psion z). The currently selected database file can be compressed (ie old records deleted) by selecting compress from the management section of the database menu, or using the hot-key combination Psion z. The good entries in the current database file will be copied from their current location onto the ramdisk. If a file of the same name already exists on the ramdisk (ie navaid.odb, reppoint.odb, airway.odb, fir.odb, or vrp.odb), the good entries will be appended to the end of this file. If the current database file is already stored in the ramdisk, no compression will take place since this is already taken care of automatically by the operating system.