ES Aircrew 2009 Update Training U.S. AIR FORCE AUXILIARY U.S. AIR FORCE AUXILIARY Lt. Col. Stan Kegel Minnesota Wing April 2009 Programming the GX-55 For the BASIC Grid System Programming the GX-55 For the BASIC Grid System

Parallel Line Search Pattern a.k.a. “Grid Search” “US Grids” are areas 15 minute to a side, serially numbered for each sectional chart (MSP means “Twin Cities” sectional) 7.5 minute quarter grids are named A, B, C, and D – in reading order, left to right, top to bottom 94  00’ W 93  30’ W 45  30’ N 46  00’ N 93  45’ 45  45’ MSP 413 A B C D A

The “Other” Grid System – BASIC Grids “BASIC Grids” are areas 1 degree to a side – The first two digits are the latitude of the SE corner – The remaining digits are the longitude of the SE corner – A slash or dash is often used to separate the latitude digits and longitude digits 30 minute quarter grids [or quadrants] are named A, B, C, and D – in reading order, left to right, top to bottom 15 minute sixteenth grids [or sub-quadrants] are named within each quarter grid A, B, C, and D. The full name of the sixteenth grid with a SE corner at 46  N 93  W would be “4693DD”. 94  00’ W 93  00’ W 46  00’ N 47  00’ N 93  30’ 46  30’ 46/93B 46/93C46/93D 46/93 AB 46/93 AC 46/93 AD 46/93 AA

Comparing the two grid systems Note that a BASIC sixteenth grid (or sub- quadrant) is the same size as a whole US Grid

Parallel Line Search Pattern a.k.a. “Grid Search” clockwise The GPS unit labels the four corners (and also four search pattern entry points) 1, 2, 3, and 4 – clockwise starting in northwest ’ W o 93 45’ W o 46 45’ N o 47 00’ N o 46/93AA 12 43

Describing a Parallel Line Pattern Grid identifier and starting waypoint (i.e. corner of quarter-grid) Track spacing Direction of tracks – either E/W or N/S quarter-grid Note: The search area for a parallel line pattern in the GX55 is always a quarter-grid when using US Grids. (It is either a quarter-grid or sixteenth-grid when using BASIC Grids.)

Parallel Line Pattern Example  Sixteenth Grid 44/93AA1 Northwest corner of sub- quadrant 46/93AA  Track spacing 2 NM  Tracks running east to west Track spacing 46/93AA

Setting up for the “Other” Grid System – BASIC Grids First, go to the SAR map set- up page, and press the GRD smart key to change the grid type to BASIC. Also, make sure the Position field is set to NW (as in North latitude, West longitude). Press the POS smart key to change this value. GRDPOS

Setting up for the “Other” Grid System – BASIC Grids Next, while still viewing a map set-up page, turn the small knob to get the SAR Position Page*. Press the SEL button to get a cursor so values can be changed**. Use the large knob to move the cursor and the small knob to change values. Change the Latitude and Longitude to represent the correct 10 degree by 10 degree area (i.e. less than and within 10 degrees of the area to be searched). Press Enter to accept the new values. ENTER SEL * Note: This page is only reachable when the grid type is set to B ASIC.

Programming the Parallel Line Search Pattern for the “Other” Grid System Prerequisite: The intended grid type (BASIC Grid), hemispheres (“NW”), and SAR Position (SE corner of the 10 degree by 10 degree area) must be configured under map setup. PAT MAP ENTER Press MAP to view map pages Turn large knob to view SAR map page Press the PAT smart key If needed, turn the small knob to view the “Parallel Line Search Page” Press ENTER to begin

Programming the Parallel Line Search Pattern for the “Other” Grid System SEL ENTER Press SEL to make cursor appear so that values can be edited Enter grid corner name*, spacing, and track direction – use large knob to move cursor and small knob to change values Press ENTER to accept values Press ENTER again to activate the search pattern Press PAT to cancel search pattern ENTER PAT * The grid number entered here is the last digit of the latitude followed by the last digit of the longitude of the SE corner. For example, to specify grid 46/93AA, with entry at the NW corner (i.e. corner “1”), first set the SAR Position in Map Setup to Lat. 40, Lon. 90, then on this page enter grid “63AA2” [as shown above]. Note that, in the case of BASIC grids, either a quarter grid (30’ x 30’), with one letter, or a sixteenth grid (15’ x 15’), with two letters, can be specified.