SIERRA 6.5  Flight-planning and Real-Time Navigation Software
for	PSION  S E R I E S   3a   Palmtop Computer
 
	Version....SERIES 3a - GPS ....DEMO

PLEASE READ  BEFORE RUNNING THE PROGRAM:
Set the internal clock to ZULU time (or local) and select all
sound on and beeps loud from the control menu in system
screen. The SSD can be used in slot A or B of the Series3a  
You should have about 65k of Internal memory free in order to 
run SIERRA 6.5 successfully. Set Printer Config from System 
Menu(*Y)          Read DISCLAIMER on last page

In the following instructions any word within brackets thus:
<Enter> means press that key. After placing SSD in slot, go to the 
system screen and move highlight to position required.
Select Install application from 'Apps' menu. Select Disk A/B, position 
'current' and File name 'Sierra6.opa'  <Enter> 
To run SIERRA 6.5 select a database name from under the icon in the System
screen and press <Enter>. The main screen is now displayed. 
Press <Menu> to display Menu options or use designated hot key to start 
option from main screen. (The symbol and letter to the right of menu item 
is the short cut selection, Press Psion key [optional] plus letter) 
If you select an option in error you can exit by pressing <Esc> 
By default Rhumb lines and Lat/Long coordinates are calculated, 
for Great Circle and OS NGR calculations select 'Defaults' and 
change at prompt.
Some dialogs have context sensitive Help for data entry <Help>

Route/
Database: (D)
Calculates Trk and distance for a sector using data stored in database. 
Enter the name of your departure Airfield at the From: prompt. (use a 
minimum of four letters...or actual ident if a navaid) 
<Enter> to select or <Tab> for the next nearest match.
(You can also find an Airfield just by entering its ICAO code)
If the Airfield or w/pt is not found (ie.not in database) you can
elect to enter its coordinates. At the relevant prompts type the
full name,Latitude,Longitude (or OS NGR) and variation
(see Database/Add: for correct formats)
Now enter the name of 1st waypoint at W/pt: prompt <Enter>
Now using the cursor arrows to move between lines,  
Enter airspeed (knots) or mach no., define type of speed input
(RAS/TAS or Mach), enter altitude (1000's of feet) or Flight
level (e.g. FL60 -no spaces), Fuel flow(per/hr) & fuel units,  wind 
velocity (use standard format e.g. 165/15 , 010/05 etc.) and OAT 
(degrees C). <Enter>     [When first run,standard defaults are 
used..See 'Database/Defaults' to edit these]
The w/pt name, true track and distance, Heading(m), Rectified
airspeed-RAS, True airspeed-TAS, Mach no., groundspeed,
Sector fuel and time is displayed. <enter>
To plan subsequent sectors using 'Database' you need only enter
from the W/pt: prompt as above. If TAS/RAS/Mach, wind vel
etc. are the same as last sector just press <Enter> to confirm, or
edit as necessary.
After each planned sector the main screen is updated with the 
plan so far including fuel calculations and any relevant waypoint 
frequencies are automatically added to the frequency window.
use up and down cursor arrows to scroll through sectors, use 
psion key plus up and down cursor arrows to scroll Frequencies
toggle 0 [zero] key to enlarge/reduce text in frequency window
press <Tab> to see more information about displayed sector
press <Diamond > to toggle enlargement of sector window

Trk/Dis: (T)
Calculates a sector if you enter measured Track and distance 
from last planned wpt or as an offset from a known wpt in  
database. Enter as prompted then continue as above.  
You can freely move between 'Database' and 'Trk/Dis' options 
while building a plan.

Alternate: (-)
Designates the next planned wpt as an Alternate...
Database option can only be used for this item.

The maximum no. of sectors is 25.    Do not exit (Psion-Esc) 
SIERRA 6.5 if you wish to keep the plan current but want to use 
other Series 3a applications,simply press system button. Reselect the 
highlighted database under SIERRA icon to return to the program.
You can also turn off(Psion-off) without losing the plan.

Return: (,)
Calculates the return journey of the current plan (which is erased, so 
you may wish to store it first). Press<Space> to input w/v etc. for 
individual sectors, or <Enter> for Global w/v.  Proceed as prompted.

Store/del: (S)
Stores current plan on selected disk. Choose a name which must start 
with a letter and have a  maximum of 8 characters with no spaces 
......... or
Deletes a previously stored plan. Select from dialog.

Recall: (R)
Recalls a stored plan. Use cursor arrows to select name and 
disk. ( If a plan exists you will be warned before it is 
overwritten.).
1. <Enter> for Global w/v with Speed,Altitude and fuel flow as 
originally stored 
2. <Esc> to edit w/v and other variables for individual sectors.

Exit: (X)
Exits the program with option to save plan if not yet saved.

Load/
Fuel: (F)
The fuel units are as set in Defaults
Enter any holding fuel required plus a percentage figure for 
contingency calculations. <Enter>
The display shows quantity required for planned route,
Alternate sector (if planned), holding, contingency and total. 
The associated Endurance is also shown. (Endurance does not
include contingency) <Enter>
[if using an aircraft that is already fuelled, enter the difference 
between calculated route fuel and fuel in tanks as Holding fuel]

Wt & Bal: (W)
The sub-menu is displayed. Before you can calculate wt & bal you must 
store details of at least 1 aircraft. To change the Disk to which you 
wish to store or recall, use Disk in Use/Select and select disk. Use 
'Registrations/New' to enter the registration and details of your aircraft 
as prompted. You can use Imperial (Lbs and inches) or Metric (Kg and 
m/cm) units by setting the 'Units' selector. Use the auxiliary arms for 
extra seats,forward baggage hold etc. Enter 0 for auxiliary arms if not 
required.(use minus sign for stations forward of datum). Select a Wt & 
Bal envelope from picklist or 'none' if not listed (see 'Envelope/Create')  
Use 'Registrations/Edit', to alter stored data. select the registration and 
alter any details as necessary. 

For wt & bal: Use 'Wt & Bal/Calculate' and select the registration - 
enter the weights as prompted. The fuel weight is shown and can be 
edited to adjust your W&B calculations. (If the fuel was planned 
using volume units, it is automatically converted to weight taking 
into account the default  Avgas/Avtur selection.) The fuel weight 
units are automatically converted to suit the units of a stored 
registration The weight, moment and centre of gravity is shown for 
take-off and landing and if an envelope was selected when storing 
w&b details, a graph is plotted. <Esc/Enter>
Use 'Envelope/Create' to define a w&b envelope for any aircraft. 
Refer to the W&b graph in your aircrafts operating manual.
First enter the name e.g. 'Cessna 172N' ,then select units to be used 
and designate the y-axis to show 'Moment' or 'Centre of Gravity'. Now 
enter the Limits of x and y axis. Now enter the first coordinate as wt 
and moment/c of g. Continue until the envelope is described. (max 10 
coordinates) N.B. the last coordinate is always the same as the first 
so the software knows when the envelope is complete.
This envelope can now be selected when adding a Registration.

Log/
Edit: (G)
When your plan has a min.of 2 sectors, use this option for editing.
Select 'Change a Sector'  followed by Sector  no., to change any 
values (including wpt.). .(Not available for Sector no. 1)
Select 'Insert a Sector' to add a new wpt or reporting point to Plan
Select 'Delete a Sector' to delete any Sector (except no. 1)
The new Trk & dist to any following wpt's in plan is auto-updated
after editing. 

New w/v: (;)
To re-calculate Plan with a new wind velocity.
Press<Enter> for Global w/v or Press<Space>  for individual sectors.  
(Also can be used to edit TAS/RAS/Mach, f/flow, altitude and Temp 
for each sector of current plan)

Clear: (Z)
Erases current plan. <Confirm with Enter>

Print SetUp: (Y)
Select suitable parameters for printer type, margins, font etc.
(Printer Configuration must be set from System Menu)
N.B. for correct printing a mono-spaced font must be used.
If you use the print facility in PSIWIN then you must press system 
icon and turn on remote link (psion/L) then return to SIERRA to
commence printing.

Print: (P)
Select Preview from dialog to check margins, no. of pages etc. 
Select Print from dialog to start printout of your planned flight.
This includes fuel,wt & bal and frequency details.

Nav/GPS Module:
In order to use this facility the S3a must be connected to a GPS 
receiver. (See Appendix A) The first time after planning or 
editing a route, a map of the immediate area around the planned 
flight is built and stored in memory and a Menu is presented.

Display CDI:
With this option a CDI display is shown enabling you to 
navigate your planned flight. As soon as valid GPS data is being 
received, the display shows the following:
No. & Name of w/pt, Hdg(m) to maintain a centred needle
Range to w/pt, Groundspeed, Current Trk(m)
CDI display with To/From flag showing off track error
Sensitivity, which is toggled with the space bar,each dot can
represent 1nm or .25nm  ...ENR/APP
OBS, which is automatically set to Trk(m) to w/pt but can be
adjusted with cursor arrows(Psion+arrow for 10 deg steps)
Real time clock, ETE (elapsed time to w/pt),  ETA to wpt
Lat/Long position
Adjust your Hdg to keep the needle centred and you will be on 
track.  If at any point you manually centre the needle (cursor 
keys) with TO flag showing, the OBS reading is then your 
QDM direct to the waypoint.
As you pass each wpt the next one is auto-selected
You can advance to the next wpt at any time by pressing <Enter>
If you need to divert or go directly to any wpt press <Diamond>, then
enter the name.The GPS plan is cancelled, the CDI needle is centred 
and the OBS reads the QDM direct to new wpt, enabling you to 
navigate direct to this position.
To resume planned route, Press <Esc> to quit and select Refresh 
from GPS/Special Menu. 

Display Map:
This option maps your planned trk(t), all airfields (in database) along 
planned trk, all navaids, all UK class D airspace, UK coastline, UK 
towns, and your present position(flashing cursor) as received from 
GPS data. (see Preferences to turn on/off features)
The righthand side of display shows: Wpt no. & Name,  Trk(m), 
Range to wpt, Left or right cross track error (xte), QDM direct to 
wpt, Groundspeed, UTC time, ETE & ETA to wpt,mini CDI display 
(1nm dots), Lat/Lon position, graphic display of number of satellites 
in use. Press <* > for Go_To function (as in CDI option).
Press <Tab> to adjust Zoom level of Map  (15-256nm across screen). 
NM scale shown at base of map. Press <Enter> to advance to next 
wpt. Press <Esc> to return to GPS Menu. Press < Menu >  to toggle 
ICAO Airfield names/Full names. Press <up,down,left,right cursor 
arrow> to see more of map in direction of arrow). Press <Help> to 
centre aircraft in map. Press<Space> for en-route ETA,s

Preferences:
To set which features you want displayed on the map (the fewer 
features selected - the quicker the map is redrawn and updated)

Special/Record
To log incoming GPS data while using CDI or map
Set interval, filename and disk. <Enter>   Select CDI or Moving-Map 
to start recording. (N.B. if set to continuous and GPS data is updated 
every 2 seconds then the file will grow to about 130k in 1 hour)

Special/Replay
To replay recorded GPS data using CDI or Map
Select 'On' and choose filename <Enter>
You can move between CDI and Map while replaying but if you exit 
the GPS menu the file will be closed.
A 'invalid GPS data' flag indicates end of recorded data.

Special/Simulator
Flies the planned route in CDI or Map display. Select Real Time to 
No for faster simulation. (if OS NGR is set, Real Time may drift
due to the time of complex calculations)

To return to flightplan mode select EXIT from menu or <Esc>.

The GPS details are held so long as the current plan is not
erased or changed or  you do not exit SIERRA 6.5. ( You can
switch off <Psion-OFF> without losing any data)

The other utilities of SIERRA 6.5 are as follows:

Garmin Link: (.)
If you have stored some routes you can send them to Garmin 
GPS units. Select name of route from dialog and enter a route 
number (0-19).  Connect to Garmin via 3-Link and set Garmin 
to receive using GRMN/GRMN protocol. Press <Enter> to send

Search: (B)
Enter  name of an airfield or navaid ident and range(nm)-
max 60nm. A list of all navaids within that range together 
with their distance and frequency is shown. <any key>

Fix/divert: (K)
This option gives your lat/long position and RNAV coordinate
from a VOR/DME, VOR/VOR or VOR/NDB fix.
Input  ident VOR1. Input QDR ( centred VOR needle with 
FROM flag). If using DME Input now and press <Enter> . 
[If you leave DME at 0 and press <Enter> you can select a 
second VOR for crosscut.]  RNAV co-ordinate and Lat/Lon 
(or OS NGR) Position is shown. To plan a diversion select 
'Nearest Airfield' or 'Choose Airfield'.
If you select 'Choose Airfield' enter name..min 4 letters and
<Enter> when it is found. The QDM, dist and freq are shown.
<Esc> to return to position dialog or <Enter> to access the
planning section where you can enter TAS,Wind vel. etc. in
order to get Hdg(m) & time to the diversion. (N.B. By 
selecting <Hdg(m)> the current plan is replaced by the 
diversion. This enables you to use the 'GPS' option to 
navigate to the diversion.) If you select 'nearest airfield' the 
QDM, distance and frequency(s) to the nearest airfield within 
50nm is shown. Continue as above .
(NB. if  using database on program disk, the search may be 
accelerated by pre-using Database/Reduce:)

Hold: (H)
Enter TAS,wind vel(m) and inbound Trk(m) as prompted to get
inbound Hdg(m) and outbound Hdg(m) & time for a standard 4
min holding pattern. The outbound heading is computed as 3 times 
the drift of inbound heading (max. 30 deg).If this is within 30 deg of 
wind direction this is reduced to 2 times drift. The outbound time is
reduced/increased by 1 sec/knot of headwind/tailwind.
<S> for stopwatch function or <Enter> for menu

Conversions: (C)
Select a group from the menu and enter a value in any unit , 
press <Enter> to get a simultaneous conversion.
For volume to weight conversions, first enter a specific gravity
( default 0.72 )   <Esc for menu>

Morse: (M)
Enter a letter or ident for a visual/aural morse code check.<Esc>

Frequency: (Q)
Enter name of  airfield or navaid ident to check the frequency 
Press <Tab> to add to Frequency Window.

X/wnd: (/)
Enter runway heading (2 digit e.g. 21, 03, etc.) and wind
direction(3 digit) and speed.The crosswind and headwind 
components are displayed (a minus indicates a tailwind)  <Esc>

Stopwatch: (I)
<Enter> to start/stop.  <L> for lap time.  <Esc> Exits while 
timer is running, zeros display while timer is stopped.


More Utilities: (+)
Select to display a menu with additional utilities.

Cost:
Enter operating cost per nm or per hr to get cost of current plan
(The currency is as set in Number Formats in system menu)

Sunrise/set:
Input the name of an airfield and the LAT/LONG (OS NGR) 
coordinates and todays date are shown.Now enter the UTC 
offset (e.g. in the UK this will be 0 in winter and 1 in summer) 
<Enter>  The sunrise, sunset, Civil dawn and Civil dusk times 
are displayed. If you wish to calculate these times for a 
particular LAT/LONG (OS NGR), enter the nearest airfield and 
then edit the displayed LAT/LONG (OS NGR)  . The date can 
also be edited to a future date if required.

Press/Dens alt:
Input Area QNH(mb) and your altitude or airfield elevation(ft)
The pressure altitude is displayed.Now enter the outside air  
temperature (C) to show the density altitude.

ROD/TOD:
Input current altitude (ft), desired altitude (ft) and groundspeed (kts). 
Now input either Rate of Descent(fpm) or Top of Descent(nm), and 
the other  is calculated.

Critical Point:
The critical point is the point where it takes equal time to fly to the 
destination or back to the point of departure. 
Enter total distance (nm), Track (t), Wind direction and speed, and 
Full Power TAS (kts). This will give the critical point assuming there 
is no engine failure. (leave Reduced Pwr TAS set at 0)
To calculate the critical point in the event of an engine failure on 
multi engine aircraft, proceed as above but enter the Reduced Pwr 
TAS. (the engine failure is assumed to occur at the worst possible 
time i.e. not until the critical point is reached)

Point of no Return:
The point of no return is the furthest point that an aircraft can fly 
away from a given airfield and return to that airfield, having 
consumed a specified amount of fuel.
Enter endurance (mins) minus any reserve required at return 
to point of departure. Enter track (t), wind direction (t), wind 
speed (kts) and normal TAS (kts). The time and distance to 
PNR is calculated when you press <Enter>
To calculate the PNR in the event of an engine failure, proceed as 
above and set the `Failed engine` line in dialog to `Yes`.(it is not 
necessary to enter Endurance in this instance)
Now enter Reduced Pwr TAS (kts), Normal Pwr fuel flow (lbs or 
kg per hour), Reduced Pwr fuel flow and Total fuel (lbs,kg) minus 
any reserve. Press <Enter> to show time and distance to PNR.


Database/
All database operations are  directed to the current Disk in use.
(N.B. before editing the database  supplied on ROM SSD you
must use  Reduce or New to build an editable database on 
Internal or another SSD) This is not necessary if you copy the 
whole SSD to Internal or another SSD and run SIERRA from 
that location.
To copy the supplied database to any device exit SIERRA, 
now highlight the database under icon and press psion/C ,
select A, Internal or B from disk prompt and press Enter 
 

Open: (O)
Select from dialog a SIERRA database to open
Now all database operations as described above, and the database 
used for flightplanning etc. , will be directed to that disk. The 
European database has aprox. 1800 airfields and navaids, and 
covers: U.K.,Ireland,Channel Islands, Belgium, Holland, France, 
Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Sweden.

New: (N)
To create a new SIERRA database

Add: (A)
To make additions to the database enter the following data:
>Name or ident:  (max 25 letters inc. spaces.)
>Lat: Latitude:   Use N/S followed by 5 figures
e.g. N51199 = 51 degrees   19.9   minutes North
>Lon: Longitude: Use E/W followed by 6 figures 
e.g. E001359 = 1 degree   35.9 minutes East
(Airfields within 99 deg E/W of 000 Meridian can use a short 
format e.g. N5110 E0306 = 51 deg 10 min North  3 deg 6 min 
East) If using OS NGR then enter 8 characters e.g. TQ605211

Do not mix formats between Lat and Long.
Do not use any other format.
>Frq:  Enter frequency(s)- max 35 characters including spaces
>Var:  Magnetic variation   e.g. W1, E11
>Type:  use cursor arrow to select type of data you are storing
Wpt,VOR/DME,VOR or NDB    [Wpt = airfield or user defined
waypoint]    <Enter> to store the data.

Edit: (E)
Enter the name or ident of database entry to edit. (you can
enter the  first few letters and <Tab> until correct match is found)
After editing the data (as in Add: above) <Enter> to save it.
If you wish to delete the entry,  or copy an entry to a database on 
another Disk , select Psion-# . (NB. every time you edit data on a 
Flash SSD some memory is used)
If you enter  '*' for the name and then repeatedly <Tab> you can
view the entire  database sequentially

Add: (A)
To make additions to the database enter the following data:
>Name or ident:  (max 25 letters inc. spaces.)
>Lat: Latitude:   Use N/S followed by 5 figures
e.g. N51199 = 51 degrees   19.9   minutes North
>Lon: Longitude: Use E/W followed by 6 figures 
e.g. E001359 = 1 degree   35.9 minutes East
(Airfields within 99 deg E/W of 000 Meridian can use a short 
format e.g. N5110 E0306 = 51 deg 10 min North  3 deg 6 min 
East) If using OS NGR then enter 8 characters e.g. TQ605211

Do not mix formats between Lat and Long.
Do not use any other format.
>Frq:  Enter frequency(s)- max 35 characters including spaces
>Var:  Magnetic variation   e.g. W1, E11
>Type:  use cursor arrow to select type of data you are storing
Wpt,VOR/DME,VOR or NDB    [Wpt = airfield or user defined
waypoint]    <Enter> to store the data.

Edit: (E)
Enter the name or ident of database entry to edit. (you can
enter the  first few letters and <Tab> until correct match is found)
After editing the data (as in Add: above) <Enter> to save it.
If you wish to delete the entry,  or copy an entry to a database on 
another Disk , select Psion-# . (NB. every time you edit data on a 
Flash SSD some memory is used)
If you enter  '*' for the name and then repeatedly <Tab> you can
view the entire  database sequentially

Reduce: (J)
A copy of the database can be reduced and saved to Internal or 
another SSD, this has the effect of considerably speeding
up search functions such as used in Fix/divert option.
You can target a particular Country or area as follows:
Enter the upper left coordinates 
Latitude (N/S degrees only)  e.g.  N53
Longitude(E/W degrees only) e.g. E008
Enter the lower right coordinates similarly.
(If using OS NGR enter 8 characters e.g. TQ601211)
Select destination disk to be stored <Enter>
This new database is now the current one in use.
To Reselect original database use Open option.
(if you attempt to store to the disk that is currently in use, a 
warning is given)

Defaults: (L)
Enter your preferred default values at the relevant prompts.
These will now be stored until you re-edit them.
NB. In order to preserve valid fuel calculations,it is not possible 
to change default fuel units whilst in the middle of a plan .


DISCLAIMER: Although every effort has been made to keep 
the database error free, and the code bug free,NavTech 
Software  and C.R.Porteous accept NO LIABILITY for any 
loss,injury or  any circumstance as a result of use of this 
software., or for any  false information given,howsoever it 
may arise, be it user induced  (rubbish in = rubbish out) , or 
due to an unknown program error giving erroneous results.
In line with general CAA directives- SIERRA 6.5 should not 
be used as your primary navigational aid.

NavTech Software	229 Devonshire Rd, London SE23 3NJ  
Phone/Fax		+44 (0)181-291-5475   
	
E-Mail			navtech@avnet.co.uk

Internet Pages:		http://www.avnet.co.uk/navtech/

 
Appendix A:
To use the GPS option of SIERRA 6.5, you must connect a suitable 
GPS receiver via the Psion  3 Link RS232 interface.
The remote link option in system Special menu must be set to OFF 
(This is auto turned off when starting SIERRA)
The Comms application must not be running.
 
Settings:
Set your GPS to give NMEA 0183 output with RMC sentences
(if possible turn off all other sentences except GGA)
This standard dictates a baud rate of  4800

Connection:
It is only necessary to make 2 connections to the mini 9pin din
socket of the Psion 3link if using CDI & map functions only 
Pin 5 is the ground             Pin 2 is the signal from GPS 
(if sending routes to GPS then Pin 3 should also be connected to 
data input to GPS) 

Appendix B:
For convenient Flight-planning, rhumb lines are usually computed 
by default in SIERRA 6.5, this ensures reciprocals agree over long 
distances. However, in the GPS section all tracks are Great Circles, 
ensuring the shortest distance for long sectors. (for distances up to 
about 60nm, rhumb lines and great circles are the same) The 
moving-map compensates for earth convergency and tracks closely 
resemble a straight line drawn on a Lambert Project map. (for 
sectors of  200nm +, add at least 1 intermediate wpt to avoid map 
portrayal error...does not apply to CDI display) 

Psion and the Psion Logo are registered trademarks and Psion 
Series 3a, 3Link and Psion SSD are trademarks of Psion PLC  
Psion Patents Pending: EP No.0419112   US No.07/582492 
JP No.249925/90               Psion Patents: US No.5247657
NavTech Software acknowledges the registered trademarks of all other 
companies referred to in this manual