These are the various data fields that are currently accomodated in the soaring turnpoint data base. Only the name, latitude, and longitude are necessary. We can accept data in "virtually" any format; ASCII text, one turnpoint per line with a distinguishing character like "tab" or "," separating the fields, is simplest, but hardly required. The data can be in any order.

A more extended description of the internal data format is available.

The coded names [UPPER CASE] are for internal use only.

• Turnpoint name no limit on number of characters, accents are fine but it simplifies life if the contributor can provide the coding used [NAM]
• Turnpoint latitude in degrees can be decimal or integer [LAT_D]
• Turnpoint longitude in degrees can be decimal or integer [LON_D]

Note, latitude and longitude can be simply in degrees, or degrees and minutes, or degrees, minutes, and seconds; e.g. 123.456789, or 123 27.41, or 123 27 25, or 123 27 24.6. If all of the turnpoints are in the same hemisphere, there is no need to specify which. The hemisphere can be specified by a letter [ N/S, E/W ] or a sign [ north = +, east = + ].

• Altitude feet or meters [ALT]
• [Bearing]
• Cambridge comment 12 characters [CAI_COM]
• Cambridge name 12 characters [CAI_NAM]
• CAL code [CAL_COD]
• CAL Identification number or acronym [CAL_ID]
• CAL code [CAL_SOU]
• Nearby town, village, or other geographical location [CITY]
• Code specifying attributes, such as airport, restricted area, etc... [COD]
• Comment any other information [COM]
• Country ICAO identifier [COUNTRY]
• Date of last modification [DATE]
• Full description of the turnpoint [DES]
• Direction from the contest site. Note, currently overwritten by an internal computation. [DIRE]
• Distance from the contest site. Note, currently overwritten by an internal computation. [DIS]
• Hemisphere longitude [EW]
• Communication frequency [FRE]
• [FROM]
• Heading to be flown to take the turnpoint photograph [HDG]
• Offical identifier [ICAO]
• [ID]
• ID 3 character [ID_3]
• ID 4 character [ID_4]
• ID 5 character [ID_5]
• ID 6 character [ID_6]
• ID 9 character [ID_9]
• ID 10 character [ID_10]
• ID 12 character [ID_12]
• ID 20 character [ID_20]
• [ID_SIN]
• Name to use for the PDF Map [IDL_NAM]
• Turnpoint description
• Turnpoint latitude [minutes] can be decimal or integer [LAT_M]
• Turnpoint latitude [seconds] can be decimal or integer [LAT_S]
• Disallowed legs [LEG]
• Turnpoint longitude [minutes] can be decimal or integer [LON_M]
• Turnpoint longitude [seconds] can be decimal or integer [LON_S]
• Magnetic variation [MAG]
• [MAP]
• [NAM_6]
• Navaid distance [NAV_DIS]
• Navaid name [NAV_NAM]
• Navaid bearing/radial [NAV_RAD]
• Hemisphere latitude [NS]
• Number [NUM]
• Map Ordinance Survey [UK] [ORD]
• Ordinance Survey Map Number [OS]
• Photo target [PHO]
• Region [REG]
• Runway Length [RW_L(ENGTH)]
• Runway Surface [RW_S(urface)]
• Runway Direction [RW_D(IRECTION)]
• Runway heading [RW]
• Map Sectional [US] [SECTIONAL]
• Source [SOU]
• State [STA]
• [TELEPHONE]
• [TMS]
• [TMS_NAM]
• Turnpoint description [TUR]
• Turnpoint type [TYP]
• [UTM_X]
• [UTM_Y]
• [UTM_Z]
• Zander comment 9 characters [ZAN_COM]

• Hemisphere latitude [Latitude]
• Hemisphere longitude [Longitude]

Return to the Worldwide Soaring Turnpoint Exchange Table of Contents?

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Please contact John Leibacher with any suggestions concerning this material.