Set Up an Along Track Waypoint on the GTN (Xi)

An Along Track waypoint is a feature of the GTN™ Xi  touchscreen avionics and GTN (software version 6.50 and above) series navigators that allow a pilot to establish a temporary waypoint a fixed distance along a course.  Using this feature can provide great value to a VFR pilot as well as facilitate more advanced IFR operations.  For VFR operations this can be used to ensure that you are arriving at pattern altitude, a preferred distance away from an airport.  Or in IFR flight, it could be used to set up unpublished offset user holds. 

NOTE:

• This is the only method to create an along track waypoint if you are below GTN software version 6.50 or have your GTN configured for Vertical Calculation (VCALC).

• If you would like to update your software and/or configure the GTN for Vertical Navigation (VNAV), see an authorized Garmin Dealer     

SITUATION:

You are flying over Harrisonville Airport (KLRY) and you are headed to Lee's Summit Airport (KLXT) to the north.  You want to be at traffic pattern altitude of 2,000 MLS at 2nm away from the field. Likewise, you can use the along track waypoint to facilitate this.  In order to establish the along track waypoint, you must have a course between two points.  If you are using Direct to, the waypoint must be entered in the flight plan. If you do not have the waypoint in the flight plan, it will not be selectable for advanced features.

PROCEDURE:

1. Select the waypoint on the flight plan page.  From the Waypoint options on the right, select Along Track.
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2. Select the amount of offset you want. In this case, you want it 2nm before KLXT, so enter “-2”.
3. Press the Enter button
   • For all offsets before a waypoint, it will show a  “-“  in front of the number.  If you are setting the offset after, it will show positive.  This can be changed with the mode buttons on the right.
   • To set an along track AFTER a waypoint, there must be a course between that waypoint and another.  In this case, there is no course after KLXT, so After will not be available. i.e. Flight plan is A to B.  To have B+2nm, the flight plan would have to be A to B to C.  
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4. Verify on the Flight Plan page that this waypoint is configured correctly for your operations.
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5. You should also verify the waypoints on the map page.  The Along Track waypoint will show as an orange box on the magenta line with a title box “KLXT-2”.
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NOTES:

• This article does not assume that the aircraft has enhanced VNAV capabilities or has VNAV enabled on the GTN Xi or GTN.
• If you have a GTN Xi or GTN (software version 6.62 or above) with VNAV enabled, there is another way to add an along track waypoints as part of the VNAV feature.
• For more information on this feature, please see the GTN Xi and GTN Pilot’s Guides. 
• You can also see more related content below for basic and advanced features of these units.