Intercept the 250° radial after a 270 inbound correction by selecting the course on the HSI.

Navigating by the numbers isn’t about luck. It’s about setting up the ship’s compass and letting the needle do the work. For pilots in instrument training, one small, deliberate step can keep a flight path clean and intercepts smooth. Here’s a scenario you might recognize: you’re tracking inbound on the 270-degree radial, and a course correction nudges you to intercept the 250-degree radial. What’s the first move that makes the rest fall into place?

Set the course on the HSI—your first move matters

Let me explain the key move in one crisp sentence: select the desired course on the Horizontal Situation Indicator, or HSI. In practical terms, you turn the course selector to 250 degrees. Why this is the move? Because the HSI is the cockpit’s central navigation compass. It translates the plan into a concrete pointer you watch as you fly. By setting the HSI to 250, you tell the navigation system, “This is the line we’re aiming for.” The needle or the course line will then guide you toward the 250-degree radial, and you’ll be able to measure how your actual flight path compares to the intended path.

The HSI is more than a pretty display

You’ll hear pilots call the HSI the “book” and the “map” all in one. It blends information from the VOR with the aircraft’s current heading and wind, giving you a live sense of where you are and where you’re headed. If you’re on the 270 inbound, the HSI helps you visualize the interception with the 250 precisely. It’s not magic; it’s good setup. Set the course, then watch how the aircraft aligns with that course over the next few seconds. If you’re off, you’ll see the deviation grow; if you’re on track, the deviation shrinks.

A little cockpit math that pays off

Intercepting a new radial after a correction isn’t about big, dramatic turns. It’s about a controlled, shallow intercept. A common rule of thumb is to aim for a gentle intercept angle—think 20 to 30 degrees at the moment you begin the turn toward the new course. The exact angle depends on wind, altitude, and your current position, but the principle holds: don’t chase the needle with a rapid, aggressive turn. Start the turn smoothly, then monitor the HSI as your aircraft slides toward the 250-degree line. If wind is pushing you off, small heading adjustments will nudge you back onto the desired track without overshooting.

What not to do first—and why it doesn’t help the intercept

There are a few tempting but less effective moves if you’re focusing on the intercept itself. For starters, blasting the autopilot on and letting it steer the intercept without confirming the course can create a drift that’s hard to unwind. Autopilot can be a lifeline later, but the first, critical step is to set the course on the HSI and actively verify the interception path. Likewise, adjusting altitude to “clean up” traffic or terrain issues is important for safety, but it doesn’t directly establish the navigation path. You’ll integrate altitude management after you’ve locked in the new radial on the HSI, not before.

Wind, terrain, and a practical sense of space

Interceptions aren’t just about the math in the cockpit; they’re also about the air around you. Wind can push a track off its intended line, and terrain or airspace constraints may nudge you toward a different flight path. That’s why the HSI is so valuable: it gives you a real-time picture of where the airplane sits relative to the 250-degree course. If you notice drift, you can compensate with small heading changes rather than a big, abrupt maneuver. The goal is a clean, efficient intercept that keeps you in a safe margin from terrain and obstacles.

A quick, practical sequence you can picture

Here’s a straightforward way to approach this, without getting lost in minutiae:

• Confirm you’re tracking inbound on the 270-degree radial. A quick cross-check of the HSI and the CDI tells you you’re on course.

• Rotate the course selector to 250 degrees to set the new radial on the HSI.

• Begin a gentle turn toward the 250-degree course. Don’t plunge the nose down or pull back hard—let the turn flow while you watch the HSI needle swing toward the 250 line.

• Monitor your intercept angle visually on the HSI. You want the aircraft to intercept the 250-degree line at a controlled angle, not at a wild, abrupt crossing.

• Keep a steady hands-on approach, staying within a safe altitude and airspeed envelope. The emphasis is on a precise interception path, with the HSI guiding you.

• Once established on the 250-degree radial, verify with other cues (range, cross-checks, any GPS guidance, as appropriate) and then proceed with the next phase of the maneuver.

A few warnings and friendly reminders

• Don’t rely on one instrument alone. Cross-check with other sources—your compass card, GPS, or even wind correction data if you have it. Redundancy is a pilot’s friend, especially in the early stages of instrument training.

• Keep your eyes moving between the HSI and outside references as appropriate for your training level. The goal isn’t tunnel vision; it’s situational awareness.

• If the intercept isn’t cooperating, pause briefly to reassess. Sometimes a slight reset of the course or a minor altitude/heading adjustment can bring the track back onto the line without drama.

Common stumbling blocks—and how to avoid them

• Failing to set the exact course on the HSI. This is the core mistake that sabotages the intercept. Take a beat to dial in 250 degrees precisely; even a minor misalignment will throw the path off.

• Over-controlling during the turn. A rapid, steep turn can overshoot or introduce unnecessary instability. Ease into the turn; let the needle guide you.

• Ignoring wind correction. If you’re fighting a tailwind or a crosswind, you’ll drift off the line. Use small heading adjustments as needed to keep you on track as you intercept.

• Neglecting cross-checks after interception. The HSI is great, but it’s not the only compass. Verify with other instruments to confirm you’re truly on the 250-degree radial.

A few words on the broader picture

Instrument navigation is like driving with a map that’s always updating. The HSI is your constant companion, showing you where you are and where you’re headed. The moment you set the 250-degree course, you’ve laid down a path that the rest of the flight can follow with confidence. It’s not a big flashy move; it’s a precise, disciplined one. And that discipline—the habit of setting the course first, watching the interception develop, and then validating with multiple cues—that’s what makes instrument flying feel smooth and controllable.

Real-world tips you can tote to the cockpit

• Make it a habit to set the course on the HSI as soon as you know you’ll be changing radials. A quick glance, the turn of a knob, and you’re aligned with the new path.

• Use the HSI as a narrative device. It tells you what you’re aiming for and how close you are to the goal. Let the instrument’s feedback guide your hands.

• If you’re ever unsure, pause the intercept briefly to re-check the course and the wind. A short, deliberate pause is often better than a rushed, sloppy turn.

• Practice the movement in calm conditions first. Once you’re comfortable with the flow, you’ll be more confident when weather or airspace adds complexity.

Putting it all together

The intercept from 270 inbound to 250 radial is a small, well-defined maneuver. The magic lies in the first step: select the desired course on the HSI. That simple act sets the stage, provides a clear target, and gives your hands and eyes a single focus. After you’ve set the course, you can choreograph the rest of the maneuver with controlled turns, mindful wind corrections, and steady cross-checks. The intercept becomes less about force and more about rhythm.

If you’ve ever felt that instrument flying is a kind of careful dance, you’re not far off. The HSI is your metronome, the radial your melody, and your head, your conductor. The more you practice this sequence—dial in the 250, watch the intercept angle, maintain the track with small, deliberate corrections—the more natural it feels. And when you’re navigating with that level of clarity, you’ll notice the cockpit becomes a place of quiet confidence, even when the sky is a little fuzzy outside.

So, next time you’re tracking inbound on one radial and a correction nudges you to another, remember the first step. Set the course on the HSI. It’s the hinge line that holds the intercept together, the small move that channels your training into precise, smooth navigation. After that, the rest tends to fall into place with less drama and more certainty. And that’s the feel of true instrument flying—clear, present, and confidently in command.