How to Track Needles/VOR/NDB in the A320! With a Real Airbus Pilot A32NX

A topic we need to cover before we move onto some more challenging approaches and other styles of approaches (VOR/NDB) is tracking! In this video you will learn how to follow a VOR course or NDB using the VOR page of the Airbus and even just using the needles!
Mod used: Flybywire A32NX Mod: flybywiresim.com/a32nx
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I am a real world Airbus pilot with thousands of hours flying the real aircraft and thought it would be fun to have a look at the new detailed simulation of the longest baby 'bus by Toliss as well as the new MSFS a320 NEO. Hopefully you find this useful and it brings another perspective to your simulation. Any thoughts or comments are welcome!
This video is intended for home entertainment only and does not reflect or represent any real world aircraft or airline procedures. It is for home flight simulator enthusiasts only and has no real world application. All views expressed are my own.
Simwings community support project:
www.simwingssupport.org/
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Intro Music by Fly24: • Distance Too Far.

[@jingle1161]

What a time to be alive for flight-simming. I remember growing up in the 80's with the commodore 64 (mind you, that's 64KB) and without internet, dreaming to become a pilot some day. Aviation was like a far away wonderland where pilots would live, not approachable in any way. How times have changed. In the mean time I was lucky enough to get a PPL and fly for fun IRL. However, I still become mesmerized by the magic of an airline cockpit. (Especially at night). It's the pinnacle of ergonomics. And I LOVE these green/magenta dIsplay reflections on the metal parts in FS2020. Not to mention the sounds and the sometimes breathtaking clouds/lighting. These video's are almost like looking over your shoulder into a real cockpit. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and all the time you put into this channel. Really, really appreciated! Btw: keeping my fingers crossed for everyone working in aviation. Hope this awful situation is not affecting you and your colleagues too much. Hang in!

[@cremebrulee2484]

If you love airliners why don’t you try to fly for them?

[@FernandoCosta-mo7of]

That is my story as well. Flying with the old Sinclar. I guess it the love for flying

[@dutypaidrock]

You reading my mind again...?! Was thinking yesterday I've never done VOR/NDB in an A320. You're gradually filling in the gaps in my knowledge

[@320SimPilot]

Excellent, I hope it helps!

[@kicsi29]

@@320SimPilot Same applies to me! Very useful and informative, for me it is the first time I got "educated" about VOR/NDB. Thanks a lot!!

[@The_Cali_Dude_88]

one of the most basic navigation skills that are mandatory

[@eelomaa]

I’ve tried many times to learn VOR tracking and it has never made sense until now. Thank you!

[@kendalley2314]

... you’re a star ... we are so privileged to have a real Airbus pilot going through this so clearly and with so much ability to give us all we need to understand ... takes me back to my PPL nav exams ... thank you👍

[@NigelAtkinson256]

This brings back memories as an air force cadet of flying in the back of an RNZAF Iroquois while they practiced exactly this. They were also using various (music) AM radio stations as NDBs.

[@DesiroDriver]

Thank you sir. I’ve tinkered with VOR/NDB navigation before in the bus and given up through lack of overall understanding. Hats off to you taking the time to mentor us on this. I’ll be back in the sim giving it a go now!

[@billy2141]

I'm studying for my ATPLS and this video explained "pushing the head" and "pulling the tail" far better than my course materials. I've been struggling with the concept until now! excellent clear explanation.

[@johnallport4575]

I have struggled with the concept of navigating with VOR and your video has helped me no end. Very well explained. Thanks for your time.

[@christopheratkinson5231]

I have been trying to get my head around this for many months now. Thanks to your video and a few days practice and a few reruns of your video all has fell into place and happily using VOR in my favourite airplanes

[@JACBoucherHD]

A true legend of the virtual skies. Thanks for another cracking tutorial 320 Sim!

[@salokin1]

Thanks for the reminder ... from decades ago when I taught myself this on the earliest personal computer sims with just green lines on a black screen background! The "circles" on the instrument display didn't always look like circles! But didn't have anyone to tell me "Push the head" and "Pull the tail" as useful reminders.

[@cadefoster9279]

So much easier learning this here than when i was in the plane. Thanks Capt

[@DeepFuture]

Doing the FS ACADEMY IFR training this week and this video has been so helpful, Thanks as always for such great content.

[@SunsetRider1337]

Thank you for the important recap. VOR navigation was the first things I learned as a flight sim hobbyist. Love it still today and always good to be prepared for the confusion of the "magenta line" not suddenly working :)

[@davehewisonphoto]

That was terrific, thank you :) I really struggled with this myself during my CPL... since i haven't flown in a while, it's become a challenge again! I'd love to see more tutorial's like this on your channel, you're a fantastic instructor!

[@kneecaps2000]

I hear you. Did so much of this with a fixed card back 20 years ago for my IR..but nothing ever made it as clear as this.

[@vutti2893]

Today I flew the infamous “circle 08 approach into LOWI and buttered the landing (you’ll have to take my word for it 🤫). This is entirely due to your tutorials and the knowledge I have gleaned over the past couple of months. This new monster vid will keep me busy for at least a couple days (it takes an hour to download 20 mins of content) but I will pour over the details and get enormous satisfaction from practising the salient points, as I have done with your past “touch and go” tutorial in Edinburgh. Thanks Capt 👍👍

[@Jer29]

Really appreciate these videos. I look forward to watching any time I see a new video upload. Super helpful and you make flying the airbus more immersive. Thanks

[@TheStingator]

Another straightforward, insightful view into the flight tools of the A320. Truly, what a resource you provide! I was watching a video the other day on how to identify a good flight instructor. My guess is you would make a great CFII!

[@320SimPilot]

Great to hear, thank you for your kind words!

[@laggeryt7558]

Very well done. The explanations are on point and simple enough for us amateurs to follow. I'm going to remember this... Push the head, pull the tail. I knew the former, but never thought about the latter. Which makes a lot of sense now. :)

[@joeyip4381]

I have been looking forward for this tutorial! You read my mind and you made my day! Just too shy to ask for such tutorial before.

[@320SimPilot]

Thanks Joe!

[@colinhunt1095]

Great tutorial. It is great having a heavily automated lane, but it is good to get back to the basics now and again. Very much looking forward to future lessons. Regards

[@dancingtango]

Brilliant. Thank you for explaining the frequency inputs and the tracking principles so clearly. Time now for practice!👍

[@kaistoneman5707]

Love the retro livery 😍this tutorial may help in my flight to Corfu today 👌

[@320SimPilot]

I hope it does! VOR approaches will be covered in the future now we have tracking covered! Thanks for watching as always.

[@dodzi2627]

This has been absolutely amazing, as I'm currently doing my IR and struggled with Pushing the Head and Pulling the Tail. I totally understand it now. Thanks again!!

[@rogermoore52]

Outstanding video. I was hoping it was going to end while I still understood but I am delighted to say I made it to the end making sense. Nice pace by the way

[@320SimPilot]

Thank you Roger! Pleased to hear it, this was a long one!

[@jamesmelbourne353]

This was a brilliant lesson!!!! More training videos like this would be great. Much appreciated.

[@patrickvideo1971]

Perfekt explanations! These toppics are very useful and valueable. That reminds me on my IR. This channel is one of the best aviation channels - really. Best regards from EDTF.

[@imabshek]

Amazing tutorial yet explained in a simple manner. Hats off to you capt!

[@glennog]

Definitely can't wait for the hold video, loving this series and the FlyByWire mod

[@filipvalenta8372]

You are the best teacher, Its amazing how you explain things easily and clearly. You made me learn so much, thank you!

[@A-Nown]

Would be great to see more of those vids on your channel. Great explanations :) Think in my next flight I'll do an ndb approach 🤟

[@victortango5281]

Thanks Captain, finally I understand that push/pull jargon that I couldn't quite figure out until now! :-)

[@anonymousgamer6131]

Just so amazing that you were flying with a TAS of 312 the whole time

[@gurukn]

Yeah? WOW! nice catch!

[@Aviator738]

30:27 TAS311

[@gurukn]

@@Aviator738 lol

[@Wingineer]

Excellent lesson. Thank you. Love the new livery btw. A DME arc would be interesting

[@dreamliner5112]

Fantastic video. Thanks for taking your time to explain things so detailed.

[@lenfox3452]

Great video. Just to make a difficult topic even harder, you could explain how to counter the effect of winds on beacon tracking, especially NDB approaches. Back in the dark ages, I had to fly an NDB approach on my first IFR test ride in my Piper Archer with a 40kt crosswind .... you guessed it -- I flunked! Holds and procedure turns in a steam gauge aircraft in a strong wind are also very entertaining.

[@matthewfarrow4754]

Great video - first time I've properly understood this! Thanks for your time making it.

[@pilotkeno738]

Thanks for this tutorial. This is yet another amazing and informative video from 320 Sim Pilot.

[@winshevora9733]

Thank you so much. I have been looking for this since a long time. I will be more situationally aware on where I am and where to go. Thank you so much for your efforts in explaining this in so much detail. Excellent video

[@vutti2893]

All makes more sense. Preempted VOR approach and once established on correct radial.....flew straight onto the runway. Thanks for excellent tutorial 👍

[@alexandergotz4437]

Very well explained! Thanks for that. Another big thumbs up.

[@hanswolff289]

Again a very interesting topic, well explained by you. Thumbs up!

[@CrashEd1664]

Another incredibly useful tutorial, as always. Thanks.

[@zatridevyatzemel]

It's hard to believe it wasn't that long ago when we would fly an entire route VOR-to-VOR if we were lucky to have those available, or NDB-to-NDB if not. Heck, there were many airports without a localizer (let alone ILS) where you'd have to line up for the runway on approach using two NDB-s tuned in to simultaneously. And FMGC? MCDU? - These acronyms didn't even exist. :) Those were some fun days of hands-on radio nav piloting. I'd say the FMGC has kinda taken away some of that pure joy. So, kudos for giving this very nice introduction and bringing awareness to the younger audience on those navigation aids and their typical use!

[@edward9905]

I was so into the advanced aircraft technologies so I almost forgot how navigate using VORs. Great video.

[@joekickass2819]

This was so helpful, I tried to follow some textual tutorials before but my head exploded lol. Now time to actually try it out in-flight! Thanks!

[@liquitech1]

Another great video. Thanks so much for taking the time.

[@joachimp4265]

You did a perfect explanation. As always, Thumb up.👍

[@06L]

Beautiful liverie. Very professional !

[@andybryant6145]

Whoa, this takes me back to my IR days.

[@707liner8]

Super informative, thanks for a great video!

[@RhysIvanMusic]

Thanks for this! Excited to start using it...

[@martinko2110]

Fantastic stuff, really helpful! Because it wasnt so serious like other channels regarding the theory About VORs, to Was much easier to comprehend...thanks a lot

[@nickde6339]

Damn that livery has something... Amazing content :) please continue!

[@MrRangerobert]

Nice job, dude! One of the best lessons I ever saw on QDM and QDR topic, as they were calling it once upon a time ... on last century ...)))

[@320SimPilot]

Thank you so much, really appreciate it! It has been a long time since I heard those used!!

[@jasongilmour379]

Great video, easy to understand. I struggled with NDBs when I done my IR rating specially when tracking outbound.

[@GetReadyFreddi]

Very well explained, thanks!

[@PianoLearnerChannel]

Great vid. I was already comfortable with VOR/NDB having used them for old school navigation in less sophisticated planes, but I liked the concept of pushing the needle and pulling the tail. And its always nice to see how to go 'old school' in the big jets. P.S I agree with the other comments Padday's work on the livery is fantastic. .It looks great. Shame IRL airlines can't put metallic paint on composite aircraft.

[@brucer.7885]

Thank you Sensei. Very easy to follow well explained.

[@canheiko3663]

Thanks indeed. It was very useful for my simulator screening.

[@320SimPilot]

You are welcome!

[@skw6410]

Great video... again! Not directly related, but flew into Ingolstadt (ETSI) earlier today on xplane with the Toliss A319, flying RNAV 07R using FPA descent path and the chart only... something I learned from this channel. See, we do listen! 🤣👌

[@Aminqui]

Great raw data Sir

[@markusdemow7994]

great explanations, very very good simulation of all situations. Thank you.

[@jress9967]

Would appreciate covering VOR approach’s in the A320 NX as your videos are always much easier to understand. Thanks

[@marinerhally]

Great video again. This has given me an idea on manual holds, but I'll know after you have done your video on it :D

[@charley1188]

Thank you so much for this video!

[@mrinck]

Many thanks for this great video !

[@alisami1382]

Great video and explanation ❤️❤️

[@34jared]

When I took lessons (40 years ago), it was called the "to/from" indicator.

[@aeroalexGR]

Good stuff. Just passed my IR and onto APS soon in the 320, this will be useful. More raw data stuff please!

[@dimitriosdimitropoulos445]

I sure needed this lesson! Thanks!!

[@320SimPilot]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching

[@alainschepers7123]

Huge thanks for sharing your experience and your knowledge with us who have always wanted to do the job you're currently doing ;-)

[@320SimPilot]

My pleasure, thank you for watching Alain!

[@karrygill28]

Extremely helpful just had a sim session with exactly the same issue ie map shift degraded navigation.Hope I’d watched this earlier.Never too late to relearn

[@PluckyUnderdog]

Great vid. Well explained. I personally don't find the concept of VOR hugely difficult. For me it's about reading and understanding the charts and being prepared ahead of time, I think. But it's certainly more taxing on the brain than an ILS or RNAV approach, that's for sure.

[@villehiltunen8559]

Thanks for this video!

[@Poseidon6363]

Brilliant tutorial, thanks

[@calamityairlines9762]

Thanks as always

[@320SimPilot]

You’re welcome!

[@derrick1707]

Well explained! Thanks.

[@320SimPilot]

Thanks for watching!

[@juliashenandoah3965]

Tonight is the night to learn good old Cessna-style VOR navigation in an Airbus ;) back to the roots if everything else fails in the cockpit. I hope you have that classic DDRMI also active in the cockpit...

[@sonicgazellepilot]

Verry useful, thanks !

[@andreasb.5921]

Great Video - one if your best!! Thank you very much for all the amazing content!!😊 I knew about the principles of VOR navigation, but not really how to properly use it in the Airbus for more than just the DME. Would be great to see a video on VOR/DME or even NDB approaches. Have you ever thought about using patreon or similar? I'd be happy to support your channel!

[@hjr2000]

@andreas come along to the livestreams and you can send a sponsored message. Also, the Captain has Discord too.

[@anon18999]

I’m working on my student pilot license and honesty watching this has helped me understand more about VOR. Cessna’s VOR is so outdated and my instructors aren’t making it easy to understand because there’s no visuals. On the side note, I didn’t know on an Airbus, we can adjust our heading via a knob. I thought it must be done with the yolk. Using the knob made so much more sense for accuracy. Also, I imagine that one day, all of this will be made even simpler and even more autonomous. Anyway, now looking back at the Cessna, I feel like I’m flying an antique… sigh.

[@The_Cali_Dude_88]

nice paint

[@shmodge1]

Though not specifically an airbus thing as you have the track but I'd love to hear more about calculating for the wind when track mode isn't available and you still need to fly the VOR. Thanks again for the videos!

[@Nikola16789]

That's not really required. Adjust and observe. No one have time to draw triangles and do trigonometry while flying.

[@mohamedalmesmari9355]

Perfect.. Thank you

[@leoarjuncrasto]

Hey bro, when I passed over the VOR, surprisingly even the Blue needle started pointing back. I am using Toliss A320

[@darmok072]

Great - thank you!

[@vickk1123]

Excellent! I'm so happy you are doing these kind of tutorials, because it's not easy to find it so well explained - VOR/NDB navigation. Thank you! And please don't worry - It's NOT long and it's NOT borring at all! :) I already watched it twice. I also have a maybe stupid question, but how would you find your way if ALL instruments and radio malfunction, but you have otherwise a perfectly heathy aircraft and you need to find an airport and land without any means of radio communication or working instruments?! Only compass maybe?!

[@user-fw2nz4oi4h]

Thank you so much

[@phjo5117]

Excellent video, very clear and instructive as usual. Would you consider doing one on DME arcs? Cheers

[@320SimPilot]

Thanks and great suggestion!

[@sky173]

Perfect demonstration. Thanks! I was hoping you would talk about this. EDIT : How do you pop out the 2D gauges like that? I 'm still trying to figure that out lol

[@320SimPilot]

Glad to hear it and thanks for watching as always! For the pop out views I press Right ALT and click on it at the same time!

[@sky173]

@@320SimPilot awesome! Thanks so much!

[@mano6866]

Great question!

[@DarkAngel-yu1ye]

Now migrating to CRJ. It would be very nice if you could no similar for CRJ . This tutorial is excellent. Thank you.

[@heavyDriver320]

Awesome

[@bergsteiger3000]

Great!

[@TopgunB]

Thankyou! In the PMDG Boeing and even a Cessna you can enter the VOR track and set your heading to fly toward the track and intercept it at say 30 degrees. You just hit the LOC button and the autopilot gets you on track automatically. Can you use the LOC button in the Airbus to do the same thing so that you don't have to do it manually like you did?

[@sparkymarky68]

Great video - I have tried a few times to learn VOR/NDB flights - always get confused with fly xxx on inbound or outbound. I am now going to plan a trip using VOR etc in my little Cessna 172 (classic) in MSFS. Love the livery - I got it after you introduced it in your stream. I notice the flap's (?) switch between black and silver depending on zoom level. Just an observation - agree with others its a great livery. Very retro.

[@PatAndOrRick]

Haven't noticed the black flap textures myself but it's possible. Had some weird effects with the lower level of detail models in the sim before.

[@sparkymarky68]

@@PatAndOrRick not a criticism. It's a lovely livery.....🙂 .... Kinda like the black.

[@PatAndOrRick]

@@sparkymarky68 haha, well in that case I'm going to market it as a feature of the livery: awesome colour changing flaps!

[@TIMMUSSETT]

Thanks

[@roymarks6720]

What a brilliant topic which I found very interesting and I am now looking forward to putting this into practice. I also have a question, how do I get notifications for your live streams? Roy

[@PatAndOrRick]

Thanks so much. All the subjects like this where I'd always been just too impatient to get to grips with in the past you have a fantastic way of getting me to just shut up and take my medicine (in the best way possible of course)! Thinking from now on only old school navigation is allowed in the classic livery. Maybe I'll get a sextant into an updated version.

[@320SimPilot]

Fantastic, really kind of you Padday and I’m glad it’s helped! The livery is a joy, thank you so much again.

[@peterlazuric5641]

Good video but I will have to watch it a couple of more times