[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
So, are you "stable or fixed" on the inbound route segment while you are still turning?
[/ QUOTE ]
I consider myself established on the route segment once I have course guidance. Is the aircraft at 1G, not accelerating/decelerating, with absolute zero VSI, and rock steady on a heading +/- 1 degree? Of course not. But I'm on the route segment as far as I'm concerned, and for all practical purposes, am established.
[/ QUOTE ]I do not disagree with you in the least (although I'm not sure of the relevance of climb/descent to an "on-course" definition) . What I am suggesting is that the definition isn't particularly conducive to a precise "these many degrees on or off" analysis, and each pilot has to ask herself the question you answered so eloquently.
Turning inbound on an ILS on a calm day, I might consider myself "established" when the needle has come far enough toward center and my heading agrees enough that my interception is no longer in doubt. On the other hand, intercepting an NDB bearing in a heavy crosswind I might well wait until the equivalent of an on-course heading with the needle deflected no more than 10º.
.
[/ QUOTE ]
The relavance of the climb/descent remark was in reference to the definition of a "stable" platform.
I agree, the interpretation of "established" is somewhat vague. For a good gauge of when one would or could consider themselves established, I can easily buy your rules of thumb, just as much as others. Key being, if it's working, then it's effective; if it's not working, correct it. Granted, obvious SA, airmanship, and a little prior planning/anticipation would need to go into it, such as the NDB example assuming one had prior knowlege of the winds aloft at that particular part of sky. But I agree with your point.