American Pilots’ Association; Portable Pilot Units: Best Pracitices

Question 1

What is NAVTECH?

Answer 1

A working group of the American Pilots’ Association’s Navigation and Technology Committee

Question 2

This can be generally described as a portable, computer-based system that pilots bring aboard a vessel to use as a decision-support tool for navigating in confined waters.

Answer 2

A PPU Portable Pilot Unit

Question 3

This is a System that is comprised of a constellation of satellites orbiting the earth at a very high altitude. The accuracy is +/- 7.8 meters 95% of the time.
A. GNSS
B. GPS
C. GBAS
D. WAAS

Answer 3

B. GPS

Question 4

This refers to any of the global positioning satellite systems such as GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and Beidou.

A. GNSS
B. DGPS
C. GBAS
D. WAAS

Answer 4

A. GNSS

Question 5

This is a terrestrial based differential correction system and is used in the U.S. is the U.S. Coast Guard Beacon System.

A. GNSS
B. GPS
C. GBAS
D. WAAS

Answer 5

C. GBAS

Question 6

This uses a surveyed position and compares it with the GPS position. The difference indicates the GPS error, which is then broadcast to capable receivers.

A. GNSS
B. DGPS
C. GBAS
D. WAAS

Answer 6

B. DGPS

Question 7

This Satellite Based Augmentation System is a satellite based differential correction system. The system used in the U.S. is the Federal Aviation Administration operated Wide Area Augmentation System.

A. GNSS
B. DGPS
C. SBAS
D. WAAS

Answer 7

C. SBAS

Question 8

This system is satellite based, elevated accuracy system that was initially developed for commercial aviation. It requires a position accuracy of 7.6 meters 95% of the time.

A. GNSS
B. GPS
C. GBAS
D. WAAS

Answer 8

D. WAAS

Question 9

This is a utility within the hardware and / or software to alert the operator that the threshold for position integrity has been exceeded.
A. Integrity Alert System
B. Threshold Monitoring
C. Integrity Monitoring
D. Position Accuracy Alert System

Answer 9

C. Integrity Monitoring

Question 10

What is the most common interface with PPUs?

Answer 10

PC/Tablet

Question 11

This uses the same frequency as WiFi but is more flexible and provides lesser throughput of data at generally shorter distances.

Answer 11

Bluetooth

Question 12

True or False: PPU is a navigation and decision-support tool that can be used by the entire bridge team of a piloted vessel.

Answer 12

False, It should be used by the pilot alone.

Question 13

When did the development of PPU systems start?
A. 1975
B. 1980
C. 1995
D. 2005

Answer 13

B. 1980

Question 14

What year and groups became the first to equip all its pilots with PPUs?
A. 1985 Maryland Pilots
B. 1990 Savannah Pilots
C. 1994 Bay and River Delaware Pilots
D. 1999 Columbia River Pilots

Answer 14

C. 1994 Bay and River Delaware Pilots

Question 15

What is the most common configurations of PPUs? (Name 4)

Answer 15

1. (D)GPS/Charting Program
2. (D) GPS/Charting Program/Self-contained AIS receiver
3. (D)GPS/Charting Program/AIS input via Pilot Plug
4. Charting Program/AIS input via Pilot Plut

Question 16

True/False Charting programs, whether supplied by the system integrator or commercially obtained, should be tailored to the specific needs of the pilot group and area of operation.

Answer 16

True

Question 17

When it comes to standardization of PPUs used in an organization what statement is false?
A. It is essencial that within a pilotage area general routes are the same.
B. It is essential that within a pilotage area all aids to navigation are the same.
C. It is essential that within a pilotage area individual pilots have the ability to alter or add to the waypoints.
D. None of the above.

Answer 17

C. It is essential that within a pilotage area individual pilots have the ability to alter or add to the waypoints.

Question 18

True or False: Visual warnings accompanied by an audible alarm advising the user of positioning errors or problems in the system should be incorporated where practical.

Answer 18

True

Question 19

When should Pilots be trained on their PPUs?
A. prior to their first use of a PPU
B. Anytime their hardware configuration has an appreciable change
C. Anytime their software has an appreciable change.
D. All of the above.

Answer 19

D. All of the above.

Question 20

What are some connectivity methods of PPU equipment?
A. Wired
B. Wi-Fi
C. Bluetooth
D. All of the above

Answer 20

D. All of the above

Question 21

What should training topics include for PPUs?
A. Extensive hardware and Software orientation.
B. Principles and use of Electronic Navigational Charts.
C. Principles and use of AIS and integration of the equipment into the pilots Bridge Resource Management practices.
D. All of the above.

Answer 21

D. All of the above.

Question 22

What two manners do Pilot Organizations generally deploy their PPUs?

Answer 22

1. Acquire a system for each pilot in the organization and issue each pilot a unit for his or her exclusive use
2. Acquire a number of systems sufficient to cover the anticipated vessel movements at a given moment and provide each pilot assigned to a vessel a means of taking a system to the vessel.

Question 23

True or False: Pilot organizations deploying a PPU should work with the supplier of their system to enact measures that ensure the systems their pilots carry are maintained in good working order.

Answer 23

True