What do the navigation blocks shown on your Multifunction Display (MFD) signify during the arrival phase of the flight?

During the arrival phase of a flight, the navigation blocks displayed on the Multifunction Display (MFD) serve critical functions related to your route. Specifically, these blocks indicate the course between waypoints and track angle error. Understanding the relationship between the intended course and your actual track is vital for maintaining situational awareness and ensuring you are on the correct path for your approach.

Knowing the track angle error helps pilots determine if they are drifting off their intended path and allows for timely corrections to stay aligned with the desired route. This information is essential for navigating effectively, particularly during the complex phases of arrival and approach when precise positioning is crucial for safety.

Other aspects like desired track and airspeed for approach or the type of approach and landing runway are equally important for flight safety and performance, but they are not specifically represented by the navigation blocks as they focus on course and track error. Similarly, while total distance remaining and time to destination are useful metrics provided by the MFD, they do not directly communicate the relationship between waypoints, which is exactly what the course and track angle error do. This distinction reinforces the importance of understanding how these navigation tools are utilized during critical flight phases.