Cross Country Flight Planning

Question 1

What preflight action is required for all flights outside the vicinity of the
departure airport?

Answer 1

(91.103)
NWKRAFT is an acronym for

NOTAMs
Weather
Known ATC delays
Runway lengths
Alternates available
Fuel requirements
Takeoff and landing distances.

Question 2

What are the types of NOTAMs?

Answer 2

Domestic, or NOTAM (D)

Flight Data Center (FDC)

NOTAMs

International NOTAMs

Question 3

What are the minimum fuel
requirements for VFR flight during the day? At night?

Answer 3

+30min day

+45min night

Question 4

What is an Alternate? What makes a good alternate?

Answer 4

alternate airport is a backup location for an aircraft to land if the original destination is no longer an option

Services
Weather:
Distance:
Fuel:
Reporting: The airport should have reliable weather reporting.

Question 5

You see some unexpected and unfavorable weather developing ahead of you, midflight. What actions
do you take?

Answer 5

Adjust your route to avoid the worst of the weather, and identify alternate airports in case you need to divert. Ensure you have enough fuel for unexpected detours. Land as soon as possible and follow any ATC instructions.

Listen to FSS for weather updates

Question 6

What are three common ways to navigate?

Answer 6

pilotage (visual navigation using landmarks)

dead reckoning (calculating position based on time, airspeed, and direction),

radio navigation (using radio signals from ground stations like VORs)

GPS

Question 7

Were there any factors that were taken into consideration when making your flight plan? (i.e. regulations, wind, airspace, etc).

Answer 7

Regulations: VFR/IFR requirements, fuel reserves (FAR § 91.151).

Weather: Winds aloft, turbulence, ceilings, visibility.

Airspace: Restricted areas, controlled airspace,NOTAMs.

Aircraft Performance: Weight, balance, fuel consumption, runway lengths.

Route and Alternatives: Terrain, obstacles, alternates for emergencies.

Question 8

When operating under VFR in level cruising flight, what altitude rules apply?

Answer 8

When operating under VFR in level cruising flight, the altitude rules state that if you are flying above 3,000 feet AGL, you should maintain an odd thousand-foot MSL altitude plus 500 feet when on a magnetic course of 0-179 degrees, and an even thousand-foot MSL altitude plus 500 feet when on a magnetic course of 180-359 degrees; essentially, flying on odd altitudes when heading east of north and even altitudes when heading west of north.

Question 9

Are the VFR cruising altitudes true or magnetic?

Answer 9

VFR cruising altitudes are based on your magnetic course, meaning you determine your cruising altitude based on your magnetic heading, not true north

Question 10

What considerations did you make for choosing your course and altitude?

Answer 10

weather conditions (wind direction, cloud cover), terrain obstacles, airspace regulations, aircraft performance, fuel efficiency, and the need to maintain proper separation from other aircraft;

Question 11

What is a VFR waypoint?

Answer 11

a predetermined geographical location that helps pilots navigate visually while flying.

VFR waypoints are used to help pilots: Transition through or around controlled airspace, Avoid Special Use Airspace (SUA), Navigate around mountain passes, Improve situational awareness, and Navigate in Class B and Class C airspace.

Question 12

How did you compute true course, magnetic course, true heading, and magnetic heading?

Answer 12

To compute true course, you identify the direction between two points on a map using true north as reference,

while magnetic course is calculated by adding the magnetic variation (easting or westing) to the true course;

true heading is the actual direction your aircraft is pointed relative to true north

magnetic heading is the direction your compass indicates, which is found by adding or subtracting the magnetic variation from the true heading depending on its direction (east or west).

Question 13

What is magnetic variation?

Answer 13

the angle between true north and magnetic north at a specific location, essentially showing how much a compass needle deviates from true north due to the Earth’s magnetic field, and this angle can change depending on your location and over time.

Question 14

How did you calculate time, ground speed, ETA, and fuel burn?

Answer 14

To calculate time, ground speed, ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival), and fuel burn, you primarily use the formula: Time = Distance / Speed; where you need to factor in wind speed to determine ground speed, then use that ground speed to calculate time and subsequently, your ETA, while fuel burn is calculated by multiplying your flight time by your aircraft’s fuel burn rate per hour

Question 15

How did you calculate top of climb?

Answer 15

determine the time it takes to reach your planned cruise altitude by dividing the total altitude gain needed (difference between your departure altitude and cruise altitude) by your aircraft’s climb rate (usually expressed in feet per minute), then add that calculated time to your departure time to find the point where you reach your cruise altitude

refer to your POH

Question 16

Are electronic flight bags (EFBs) an acceptable replacement for paper
charts?

Answer 16

Yes, Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) are acceptable for replacing paper charts, provided they are:

Functional: The EFB must be operational and display current, accurate information.
Current: All charts and data must be up-to-date.
Backup: It is recommended to have a backup EFB or alternative navigation source in case of device failure.

Question 17

Name some types of navigational aids

Answer 17

VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range): Provides azimuth information for navigation.

DME (Distance Measuring Equipment): Measures distance to a VOR/DME or ILS.

NDB (Non-Directional Beacon): Provides bearing information using the ADF.

ILS (Instrument Landing System): Guides aircraft for precision approaches.

GPS (Global Positioning System): Satellite-based navigation providing position and course data.

RNAV (Area Navigation): Allows direct routing using waypoints.

Question 18

What limitations apply to VORs?

Answer 18

Line-of-sight
VOR signals rely on line-of-sight radio waves, so they can be blocked or distorted by obstacles like buildings or mountains. This means that the aircraft needs to stay in a clear path to maintain a connection with the VOR station.

Altitude
The range of a VOR varies proportionally to the altitude of the receiving equipment. This means that the aircraft needs to fly higher to maintain a stable signal the farther it is from the station.

Range
VORs are short to medium-range systems, so they are less comprehensive than GPS, which offers global coverage.

CDI display
The CDI display only makes sense when the aircraft heading is close to the selected radial. If the aircraft heading is reversed, it puts the aircraft at risk for reverse sensing.(cone of confusion)

Question 19

Briefly explain how GPS works?

Answer 19

(Global Positioning System) works by using a network of satellites orbiting Earth, which broadcast signals that are received by an aircraft’s GPS receiver; by calculating the time it takes for the signal to reach the receiver from multiple satellites, the aircraft can determine its precise location (latitude, longitude, and altitude) through a process called trilateration, allowing pilots to navigate accurately during flight

*you need 3 satellites and the 4th is to confirm they are correct

Question 20

What are the types of altitudes?

Answer 20

Indicated Altitude: Altitude read directly from the altimeter when set to the current altimeter setting.

True Altitude: Actual height above mean sea level (MSL).

Absolute Altitude: Height above ground level (AGL).

Pressure Altitude: Altitude indicated when the altimeter is set to 29.92 inHg. The hight above the standard datum plane

Density Altitude: Pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature.

Question 21

What are the types of airspeed?

Answer 21

True airspeed (TAS): The speed of an aircraft relative to the air around it. This is the speed used in flight plans and documentation.

Calibrated airspeed (CAS): The indicated airspeed corrected for instrument and position errors.

Indicated airspeed (IAS): The speed of the aircraft relative to the surface, as indicated by the airspeed indicator.

Groundspeed: The speed of an aircraft relative to the ground. It’s affected by wind direction and speed.

*Equivalent airspeed (EAS): The indicated airspeed corrected for the error caused by high-speed air.

*Mach number: The ratio of the true airspeed to the local speed of sound. It’s important for jet aircraft flying at high speeds.

Question 22

What is Minimum Safe Altitude (MSA)? What is the MSA when flying over congested areas?

Answer 22

Minimum Safe Altitude (MSA) refers to the lowest altitude at which an aircraft can safely fly over a specific area, considering terrain and obstacles, and when flying over congested areas.

MSA is typically defined as 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a 2,000-foot radius of the aircraft according to FAA regulations.

Question 23

what are VFR corridors?

Answer 23

A VFR corridor is a defined area of airspace within Class B airspace that allows aircraft to fly without air traffic control (ATC) clearance or communication. VFR corridors are essentially “holes” in Class B airspace, and are often located above the primary airport.

Question 24

How do you enter class B airspace?

Answer 24

Get clearance “cleared to enter the bravo”

To enter Class B airspace, you must have an operable two-way radio capable of communicating with ATC, a transponder with automatic altitude reporting capability (Mode C), and an ADS-B Out transmitter; essentially, you need the ability to communicate with ATC and be tracked by the system with accurate altitude information

Question 25

What do you need to enter class B airspace?

Answer 25

ATC clearance: Pilots must obtain clearance from air traffic control (ATC) before entering Class B airspace.
Two-way radio: The aircraft must have a two-way radio that can communicate with ATC on the appropriate frequencies.

Transponder: The aircraft must have a transponder with altitude reporting.
ADS-B out transmitter: The aircraft must have an approved ADS-B out transmitter.

Mode C transponder: The aircraft must have a Mode C transponder and use it within 30 nautical miles of the primary airport.

Weather minimums: Pilots must meet the weather minimums for the airspace. For example, to fly VFR in Class B airspace, pilots must have at least three statute miles of visibility and remain clear of clouds.

Question 26

What sources could you use if you are in flight and need to obtain current weather?

Answer 26

Flight Service Station

Question 27

Where can you find the frequency for FSS?

Answer 27

Charts
Flight Service Station frequencies are usually listed on the face of a chart, near the location of the antennae. They can be found above the airports where remote sites may be located, above the navaid frequency box, or at remote sites indicated by a small dot enclosed by a small circle.

GPS or iPad apps
Most GPS navigators and charting apps, such as ForeFlight, have a listing of the nearest Flight Service frequencies.

VOR stations
Flight Service frequencies are listed in a box above certain VOR stations. The most common frequencies are 122.2, 122.4, or 122.6

Question 28

When would you need to contact FSS?

Answer 28

Briefings: Pilots receive preflight briefings that include weather and notices to airmen (NOTAMs)

Flight plans: FSSs process flight plans, including filing, opening, and closing them

Advisories: FSSs provide en route flight advisories, airport advisories, and traffic advisories to aircraft on the ground or in flight

Question 29

Are VFR flight plans mandatory?

Answer 29

No

Question 30

Who closes a flight plan?

What if you are at an un-towered airport?

Answer 30

A pilot is always responsible for closing their own flight plan, regardless of where they are landing; if at an untowered airport, they should contact the nearest Flight Service Station (FSS) to close it, or if unable to reach an FSS, contact any available ATC to relay the cancellation message to an FSS.

contact your nearest Flight Service Station (FSS) via radio or phone and state that you are closing your flight plan; you can typically reach them by dialing “1-800-WX-BRIEF” and providing your flight plan details to officially close it

Question 31

Why is it important to close a flight plan, or to update your flight plan if you will be late to your destination?

Answer 31

it informs air traffic control (ATC) that you have safely arrived and prevents unnecessary search and rescue efforts from being initiated if your flight is considered overdue due to a missing flight plan

Question 32

What actions would you take if you became lost in VFR flight?

Answer 32

Climb:
Ascend to a higher altitude to gain a better view of the terrain and improve radio reception.

Circle

Conserve fuel

Communicate:
Contact the nearest ATC facility on the appropriate frequency, clearly stating your position and that you are lost.

Confess:
Be upfront with ATC about your situation, providing details about your current position and any landmarks you can identify.

Comply:
Follow any instructions provided by ATC, which may include heading changes, altitude adjustments, or requesting a “QDM” (magnetic heading to a specific location).

Question 33

What is DME?

Answer 33

Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) is a radio navigation system that measures the distance between an aircraft and a ground station

How it works: The aircraft sends a pulse signal to the ground station, which responds with a pulse signal after a delay. The aircraft’s receiver measures the time delay between the pulses and calculates the distance.

Question 34

Give a brief explanation of GPS

Answer 34

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a space-based radio-navigation system consisting of a constellation of satellites broadcasting navigation signals and a network of ground stations and satellite control stations used for monitoring and control.

Question 35

What is the purpose of RAIM?

Answer 35

Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM) is a technology that assesses the integrity of GPS signals in a GPS receiver system:

Purpose
RAIM ensures that the navigation solution provided by the receiver meets the required performance standards for safety-critical applications.

How it works
RAIM compares the distance measurements of a number of satellites to identify a satellite failure and issue an alert to the pilot. RAIM uses redundant signals to produce several GPS position fixes and compares them.

Question 36

What is CTAF?

Answer 36

CTAF stands for Common Traffic Advisory Frequency, and it’s a radio frequency that pilots use to communicate with each other and announce their intentions while operating near an airport without a control tower.

Question 37

What is UNICOM?

Answer 37

Universal Communications (UNICOM): A non-governmental radio communication station that provides information and services at airports without control towers. UNICOM is also known as an aeronautical advisory station.

UNICOM can provide pilots with information such as:

Weather conditions
Wind direction
Recommended runway
Location of other aircraft
Taxi instructions
In-flight advisories
Altimeter setting
Whether other traffic is known

Question 38

What is HIWAS? How can you determine it is available on a Navigational Aid?

Answer 38

HIWAS stands for “Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service,” which was a continuous broadcast of hazardous weather information transmitted over selected VORs (Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range) navigational aids; you can determine if HIWAS is available on a navigational aid by looking for an “H” symbol in the upper right corner of the box containing the NAVAID frequency on a sectional or terminal area chart; however, the FAA discontinued HIWAS service on January 8, 2020, and replaced it with Flight Information Service-Broadcast (FIS-B) for accessing in-flight weather data.

Question 39

How often in the A/FD updated?

Answer 39

56 Days

Question 40

May portable electronic devices be used onboard an aircraft?

Answer 40

Yes, portable electronic devices (PEDs) can be used on aircraft, but it depends on the device and the airline’s policy.

Airplane mode or turned off

Question 41

When may a pilot deviate from an ATC clearance or instruction? What action should the PIC take if he/she decides to deviate?

Answer 41

A pilot may deviate from an ATC clearance or instruction only in an emergency situation, where immediate action is necessary to ensure the safety of the flight, and in such cases, the PIC must notify ATC as soon as possible about the deviation and request an amended clearance if needed

Question 42

What are the emergency
transponder codes?

Answer 42

7500 Hijack

7600 Lost coms

7700 Emergency

Question 43

When are position lights required to be on?

Answer 43

Position lights, also known as navigation lights, are required to be on from sunset to sunrise. This is according to the FAA’s night rules, which begin when the sun sets.