Radials

Home >> Standard Operating Procedures >> Radials

What is a radial?

A radial is a compass bearing from a point. Usually from an airfield, TACAN station, VOR station or carrier.

Together with a range and altitude component, it is often used to describe where airplanes are located relative to an airfield, TACAN station, a carrier or bullseye. The first component of a bullseye call - the compass bearing from the bullseye - is a radial.

Radials and locations relative to an airfield

Important facts to note

The heading of an airplane has nothing to do with its radial, just like roll and pitch of the aircraft are unrelated to its position. Heading, pitch and roll will affect how the location of an aircraft changes over time, but is not needed to describe its current location relative to something else.

The heading of a carrier has nothing to do with radials relative to its TACAN station. The radial is a compass bearing from the carrier's location, regardless of whether the carrier is heading east or west etc.

To fly on a radial

When an aircraft is said to be "flying on a radial", it means that it remains on that radial. There are a couple of ways to fly a radial:

• Fly outbound on a radial
• Fly inbound on a radial
• Be anchored on a radial and distance - orbiting a certain point
• To marshal in a racetrack on a radial - meaning you are moving up and down a radial

Different ways to "fly on a radial"

When are radials used?

• During radio communications and navigation around airfields on arrival or departure - both for describing current positions, and for positioning flights
• During radio communications and navigation around carriers - especially CASE 3 operations
• Bullseye calls for describing flight locations relative to a predetermined "bullseye" location in the theatre of operations

Examples of radial usage in communications

Kutaisi, Indy9 marking your 080 (radial) 35 miles angels 20

The flight Indy9 lets Kutaisi know that they are located 35 miles away in the 080 bearing from the Kutaisi airfield.

Picture: One group, bulls 350 (radial) for 50, angels 31, heading south

A group of aircraft is located roughly 50 miles north of the bullseye.

Indy91, Union Marshal, marshal on the 230 radial, 26 miles angels 11

The carrier marshal is telling Indy91 to position itself on the 230 radial 26 miles from the carrier.

Suggested exercise

The following is an exercise that will test your understanding of radials. Make sure your flight is being recorded by Tacview, then fly the route.

1. From Kutaisi, fly outbound on radial 120 until 40 NM, 30 000 ft.
2. Position yourself on radial 180, 50 NM. Perform three orbits on that position.
3. Position yourself on radial 220, 60 NM. Fly two laps with 6 NM legs.
4. Position yourself on radial 270, 60 NM. Then fly inbound on that radial towards Kutaisi until you are overhead Kutaisi (directly above the airfield).
5. Send the Tacview file to a mentor or instructor for review+feedback.

How to read radials in various aircraft

Generally, you will have a navigation instrument that shows the bearing towards a waypoint or navigation beacon. The radial you are on is simply the reciprocal (opposite) of that bearing. Many navigation instruments (HSIs) will have a marker to help you read this opposite bearing.

F-16C

Reading your radial in F-16C