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Navigation and Flight Planning

Cross Country Flight Planning

Navigation and Flight Planning
Navigation and Flight Planning

Objective: The student should develop knowledge of the elements related to navigation and flight planning

Completion Standards: The student can properly and confidently plan and execute a cross country flight to a chosen destination and understands the procedures for diversions and lost situations.

References: PHAK Ch 16, AIM

Equipment: White Board and markers, iPad/ computer, Foreflight, Nav Log

IP’s Actions:

  • Assess student

  • State the objective and completion standards

  • Writes down references

  • Provide attention getter

  • Present content

  • Assessment

  • Assign Homework

SP’s Actions:

  • Take notes

  • Ask Questions

Introduction: 

(Attention Getter) : This is what leads into using everything you have learned so far and flying yourself somewhere!

Motivation: This information will make planning flights easier and more organized and provide procedures for different situations that may arise during the flight.

Overview:

  1. Features of aeronautical charts

  2. Importance of using the proper and current aeronautical charts.

  3. Pilotage and Dead Reckoning

  4. Method of plotting a course

  5. Fundamentals of radio navigation

  6. Terms used in navigation

  7. Using a Nav Log

  8. weather check and “go/no-go” decision.

  9. Lost procedures

Content:

Features of aeronautical charts.

  • Latitude & Longitude

  • Time zones

  • Measurement

    • Magnetic

      • Deviation – External factors from the aircraft 

        • Effects easterly and westerly direction

        • Calibration card?





  • Variation - Angle between TN and magnetic north (MN)

    • Earth is not uniformly magnetic

    • A correction (on the chart) to add or subtract from true to magnetic

    • Agonic line

      • Zero-degree variation

      • True north and Magnetic north are Equal



Importance of using the proper and current aeronautical charts.

  • Updated charts have all the changes

    • A new building or obstacle

      • Height

      • Where?


Fundamentals of pilotage and dead reckoning.

  • Pilotage

    • Pilotage is navigation by reference to landmarks or checkpoints.

    • It is a method of navigation that can be used on any course that has adequate checkpoints

      • roads

    • Difficult in low visibility or in areas that lack prominent features.

  • Deed Reckoning

    • Navigation solely by means of computations based on time, airspeed, distance, and direction.

    • Ideally, use with radio navigation and pilotage to confirm


Method of plotting a course, selection of fuel stops and alternates, and appropriate actions in the event of unforeseen situations.

  • Straight line from point A to B (KDAB to KGNV)

    • Ask student what airspace we are going through

      • Ask student, can we go through an MOA

    • What points are good fuel stops

      • Need enough fuel to fly to the point of intended landing, and an extra 30 minutes of flight during the day, 45 minutes at night, at normal cruise power.

    • Check points

      • Towns

      • Points of interest

      • Roads

    • Alternates

    • Areas to land for emergencies 


Fundamentals of radio navigation

  • VOR [VHF(Very High Frequency) Omnidirectional Range]

    • Point out on sectional

  • NDB (Nondirectional Radio Beacon)

  • GPS (Global positioning system)


Terms used in navigation.

  • Course

    1. Intended path of an aircraft over the ground or the direction of a line drawn on a chart

  • Heading

    1. Direction in which the nose of the aircraft points during flight.

  • Track

    1. Actual path made over the ground in flight

    2. Correction for wind

  • Drift angle

    1. angle between heading and track

  • WCA (Wind Correction Angle)

    1. correction applied to the course to establish a heading so that track coincides with course.

  • Airspeed

    1. Rate of the aircraft’s progress through the air.

  • Ground speed

    1. Rate of the aircraft’s inflight progress over the ground

  • True Airspeed

    1. The speed at which an aircraft is moving relative to the surrounding air

    2. Equal to CAS corrected for density altitude


Using a Nav Log

  • Importance of preparing and properly using a flight log.

    • Fill out Nav Log

  • Computation of fuel consumption.

  • Diversion to an alternate.

    • Go step by step Example

  •  Purpose 

    • Used as a back up or list of points

  • filing a flight plan

    • Provides information to search and rescue.

    • Can file on ground or in air:

      • Call FSS (1800-wx-brief) or use DUAT to file.

    • After takeoff, contact the FSS (radio call) to give them the takeoff time to activate the flight plan.

    • Once filed,

      •  held for an hour after proposed departure time.

    • Remember to close the flight plan!

      • Search and rescue initiated 30 minutes after the scheduled arrival time.



Importance of a weather check and the use of good judgment in making a “go/no-go” decision.

  • Obtain weather briefing—​shows where problems may occur during the flight.

    • WX Brief ^^^

  • Pilot must be familiar with weather for the flight [FAR 91.103]

  • Use good judgment in deciding if to take the flight.

  • Consider weather factors in relation to the equipment to see if the plane can handle the flight.

  • Should be a no-go decision if…​

    • Thunderstorms, especially embedded

    • Fast-moving fronts/squall lines

    • Moderate turbulence

    • Icing

    • Fog, visual obscurations

  • Pilot mental and physical condition can affect your ability to handle problems — sick, tired, upset, depressed, IMSAFE.

  • Recent flight experience is important in making the decision


Lost procedures

5C’s

  1. Climb

    1. Allows you to see more ground, increases chances of spotting landmarks, improves radio reception, extends transmitter range, increases radar coverage.

  2. Communicate 

    1.  Use chart frequencies (including RCO frequencies) to ask a controller for radar vectors. If situation becomes threatening, squawk 7700 and communicate on 121.5.

  3. Confess

    1.  Tell any ATC facility that you are lost.

  4. Comply

    1.  Comply with any ATC suggestions.

  5. Conserve

    1. Reduce power and airspeed to maximum endurance or maximum range, whichever is appropriate.

  6. Remember, don’t Panic!

    1. Can use water towers

    2. VOR’s


Conclusion

  1. Features of aeronautical charts

  2. Importance of using the proper and current aeronautical charts.

  3. Pilotage and Dead Reckoning

  4. Method of plotting a course

  5. Fundamentals of radio navigation

  6. Terms used in navigation

  7. Using a Nav Log

  8. weather check and “go/no-go” decision.

  9. Lost procedures


(Questions to assess student)

Why is creating a flight plan important?

What is the reason for creating a Nav Log?

How would this help you during a XC?

What are the Lost procedures?

What are the differences between Dead reckoning and Pilotage?


HW: 

Plan a flight plan from KDAB to KCRG


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