Navigational Aids

Discussion What would you do if you lost sight of land and your compass didn’t work? What clues might help you go in the right direction? Read Pages Chapter 4, Lesson 2 Copyright © NAS Fort Lauderdale Museum

Lesson Objectives   Describe how a compass works and what causes variation   Identify what air traffic characteristics are used to divide airspace use   Describe the different uses of VFR and IFR navigation charts   Identify the purpose of flight planning and the tools needed for flight planning   Identify the purpose of Computer Flight-Planning Tools Chapter 4, Lesson 2

Vocabulary  Variation  Deviation  Magnetic Heading  Legend  VFR  IFR Chapter 4, Lesson 2

Navigational Tools The Navigational Tools The Compass   Some navigational tools have been around for centuries   Two of them are the compass and map   One of the oldest and simplest instruments is the magnetic compass   It determines direction and works because the Earth itself is a huge magnet   All magnets have a north pole and a south pole. Like poles repel and unlike poles attract   A compass needle lines up with the magnetic poles, so its north tip points to the magnetic North Pole.

Variation  Variation is the difference between true direction and magnetic direction   Variation occurs because the geographic north pole and the magnetic north pole are not the same   Maps and charts use lines of longitude that pass through the geographic pole —these are true directions   Directions determined by magnetic compass measurements or charts provide — magnetic directions Chapter 4, Lesson 2 Reproduced from US Department of Transportation/Federal Aviation Administration

Deviation  The magnets in a compass line up with any magnetic field.  This is important to know because aircraft generate their own magnetic fields that conflict with Earth’s magnetic field.  The magnetic fields inside an aircraft come from electrical circuits, radios, lights, tools, the engine, and magnetized metal parts.   Deviation is a magnetic compass error caused by local magnetic fields within aircraft Chapter 4, Lesson 2 Reproduced from US Department of Transportation/Federal Aviation Administration

Deviation   To correct for deviation, pilots use a compass deviation card   Magnetic heading corrected for deviation is called the compass heading Chapter 4, Lesson 2 Reproduced from US Department of Transportation/Federal Aviation Administration

Navigation Tools Elements of a Map  Being able to read a map is also important to navigation.  The spot to begin research on a map or chart is at its legend, which is a list of all symbols and their meanings on a given map   The legend includes   Scale   Physical, or topographic features   Water, or hydrographic features   Transportation features   Cultural features – man made objects

Navigation Charts   Air navigation chart or aeronautical chart—is a road map for pilots   Features include: airport locations, obstructions, and the map scale for distances   Charts go through frequent revisions to take into account changing conditions Chapter 4, Lesson 2 Courtesy of NASA

Airspace  Charts include airspace information.  The concept of airspace is a way to control traffic in the skies.  Airspace is divided into different use categories based on the following air traffic characteristics:  the complexity or density of aircraft movements  the kinds of operations taking place within the airspace  the level of safety required  National and public interest. Read pages

VFR Navigation Charts   For flying by Visual Flight Rules (VFR) there are three types of charts pilots can use:   Sectional Charts For pilots flying slow- to medium-speed aircraft They have a scale of 1 inch equals 6.86 nautical miles A chart drawn to this scale can include lots of detailed information Its many details include airport data, navigational aids, types Chapter 4, Lesson 2 Courtesy of US Department of Transportation/Federal Aviation Administration

VFR Navigation Charts   VFR Terminal Area Charts  These charts are useful when flying in or near Class B or Class C airspace.  Their scale is 1 inch equals 3.43 nautical miles  This larger scale lets them show topographic features in more detail   World Aeronautical Charts  Pilots flying moderate-speed aircraft at high altitude use world aeronautical charts.  The scale is 1 inch equals 13.7 nautical miles  They are useful when flying long distances. Chapter 4, Lesson 2 Courtesy of US Department of Transportation/Federal Aviation Administration

IFR Navigation Charts   Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) are used when flight doesn’t allow VFR, such as bad weather   There are two types of charts used when flying IFR:   IFR Enroute Low Altitude Charts — below 18,000 feet Include navigation aids, airports, controlled airspace details, minimum altitudes to clear obstructions, distances, and magnetic courses.   IFR Enroute High Altitude Charts — above 18,000 feet includes jet routes, special use airspace, time zones, navigation aids, airports, distances, and more Chapter 4, Lesson 2

Flight Planning   The purpose of flight planning is to make flight as safe as possible.  It should be done carefully and thoroughly in a reasonable amount of time before takeoff   To develop a flight plan the pilot must use a number of tools:   Charts for areas along flight path   Airport information (primary and alternates)   Aircraft tech data to include fuel consumption rate   Flight computer / electronic calculator   Weather reports / forecasts Chapter 4, Lesson 2

Flight Plans   A flight plan is a form a pilot fills out before a flight and turns in to air traffic control  The details include whether the pilot intends to fly according to visual flight rules or instrument flight rules, the type of aircraft, departure point and time, cruising altitude, destination, estimated length of flight, how much fuel the aircraft has, alternate airports where it can stop in case of trouble, and the number of people on board.   Helps keep tabs on traffic in the air   Gathers information about an aircraft and its route for the FAA to conduct search and rescue if needed Chapter 4, Lesson 2 Reproduced from US Department of Transportation/Federal Aviation Administration

How to Draft a Preflight Plan Chapter 4, Lesson 2 Reproduced from US Department of Transportation/Federal Aviation Administration   Study the terrain and obstructions along the route   Measures the flight’s total distance   Using a plotter, calculate direction   Figure out groundspeed   Select checkpoints along the route   Check areas on either side of the route in case the airspace has any special rules

Airport Information   Two FAA publications containing airport information are Notices to Airmen (NOTAM), and Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD)   Information includes airport locations, elevation, runway and lighting details, available services, and control tower and ground control frequencies Chapter 4, Lesson 2 Courtesy of US Department of Transportation/Federal Aviation Administration

Aircraft Information   The pilot should check the Aircraft Flight Manual or Pilot’s Operating Handbook for weight and balance information   Figure out how much takeoff and landing distance the plane needs based on the load   Look at fuel consumption charts to find out how much fuel the aircraft will use Chapter 4, Lesson 2

Purpose of Computer Flight-Planning Tools  Technology is playing ever larger roles in flight planning.  Pilots use software that lets aircrews electronically draw up and file flight plans saving an airline time and money.  For example, a commercial airline that offers service between the same airports every day will generally have its pilots use a flight management computer with waypoints and ground stations already installed in the system’s database.  Then up pops the flight plan, including accurate estimated arrival times, alternate airports, and more.  These preprogrammed flight plans can take weather reports into account  As a flight progresses the computer can also alter the heading for any changes in wind

Lesson Objectives   Describe how a compass works and what causes variation   Identify what air traffic characteristics are used to divide airspace use   Describe the different uses of VFR and IFR navigation charts   Identify the purpose of flight planning and the tools needed for flight planning   Identify the purpose of Computer Flight-Planning Tools Chapter 4, Lesson 2

Activity 1: Elements of a Map   Identify and describe elements of a map   Determine distances between various points on the map   Answer the questions Chapter 4, Lesson 2

Activity 2: Interpreting a Sectional Chart  Visit NASA’s Virtual Skies Aviation Navigation section on “Reading a Sectional Chart”  Examine the sectional chart and the information it communicates  Refer to the various map keys to answer the questions Chapter 4, Lesson 2

Activity 3: Reading a Flight Plan  Read the flight plan scenario  Fill out the blank FAA Form Chapter 4, Lesson 2

Activity 4: Preflight Planning  Chart checkpoints for a course  Determine information for flight planning Chapter 4, Lesson 2

Activity 5 Flight Simulator: Flight Planning  Create a flight plan in Microsoft Flight Simulator Chapter 4, Lesson 2