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- If two consecutive points have the same latitude value, then the line connecting the two points is a parallel on the surface of the Earth; this may be explicitly stated using words such as “along the parallel to” (for the detailed encoding see page Parallels);
- Otherwise, it is considered a “straight line on the map” (for the detailed encoding see page TBD Straight Line).
In addition, the source map used when the airspace was designed is typically unknown.
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Arcs may also be used in the definition of approach/departure trajectories. However, specific “path and terminator” codes are used to encode such arcs and the use of GML in this case is limited to providing a curve for printing the procedure on a map. GML is not used to encode the real flight trajectory of an aircraft, as stored in the Flight Management System (FMS).
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