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Navigation display during K-Transect
A screenshot of our "SoxCDI" precise aircraft navigation system display during our overflight of the "K-Transect" sites today. The inconvenient kink in the line of sites between waypoints AA005 and AA006 required us to execute a 360 deg turn at that point, at 400 knots and in controlled airspace frequented by trans-Atlantic airliners. We successfully overflew every one of the K-Transect sites today. This required not only excellent airmanship on the part of our pilots, but also careful coordination with air traffic controllers, over noisy, static-prone radio links, to ensure safety. This sort of professional teamwork in the safe pursuit of science goals is the bread-and-butter of NASA's research pilots.