Start

When the Group Lead-in tool is first run, the Segment tab is in the Start mode. When in this mode, the tool is waiting for you to select a starting point for the first path segment. Parameters can be defined for commencing the path simulation. The top row in the Start tab controls the drawing X,Y plane on which the Group Lead-in session is to be placed; an elevation can be specified in the corresponding box.

Insertion Point

This is the point with which the airplanes will be placed in the drawing. All group lead-in paths are constructed using nose gear over centerline, hence the insertion point is always nose gear.

Segment

After the airplane (group) has been placed at the desired position in the drawing, the Start tab switches to the Segment tab. The Segment tab contains parameters to perform accurate group lead-in path construction. The dialog box is divided into two sections: segment settings and path settings.

Segment settings:

• Current/Targeting segment settings
  Limits the effective steering angle by degrees and sets the maximum effective steering angle permitted for the current segment. After a line in the drawing has been targeted, the airplane cloud will display at the first point of alignment for all airplanes in the group. When the pointer is moved farther along the line, a red highlight marking and an airplane cloud can be seen. At this point of construction, the steering limit value remains editable, and the result of any change is immediately visible in the drawing. Click again to set the end point of the segment.  If the SmartTarget has been used to end the lead-in path on a stand, this value also remains editable, and the results immediately display in the drawing. Airplanes that exceed this limit will not complete the path.
• Minimum alignment distance
  Sets a minimum distance by which each airplane must be aligned with the lead-in line before reaching the stop position.

Path settings:

• Limit effective steering angle in percent
  Set to 80% by default, this defines a relative maximum effective steering angle for the entire lead-in path. AviPLAN Airside Pro 2024 will always use the most restrictive of the two set limits.
• Apply asymmetric thrust / differential braking
  Select the Apply Asymmetric thrust / differential braking checkbox to account for the effect of asymmetric thrust and differential braking resulting in an increase to the maximum effective steering angle.
  Note: Asymmetric thrust / differential braking data is not available for all airplanes.

During the design process, it is possible to switch between the various tabs (e.g. to add or change airplanes or run conflict analysis).

Useful link: Steering Angles, Speed and Turning Radii

More

Provides access to settings that may not be altered frequently.

Follow layers

Define the layers/levels to be used during the process of following lines and other entities. The layer/level on which the object is inserted at the start of the path is automatically recognized and added to the list of layers/levels displayed in the box below. Two methods are available to add further layers:

1. Selecting the layer/level in the list and clicking the Add Layer button.
2. Clicking the Pick Layer button and picking the layer/level in the drawing.

All layers/levels will be added to the list of layers/levels displayed in the box below. A layer/level can be removed from the list of the follow layers/levels by clicking it in the list and then clicking the Remove Layer button.