Cross-country Flight Planning Flashcards
What are three common ways to navigate?
Pilotage
Dead reckoning
Radio navigation
What are sectional charts?
Charts used for visual flight of slow to medium speed aircraft. Very detailed. Revised semiannually.
What are VFR Terminal Area Charts (TAC)?
Depicts Class B airspace. Revised semiannually.
What are World Aeronautical Charts (WAC)?
Cover land areas for medium speed aircraft at high altitudes. Revised annually.
What are VFR Flyway Planning Charts?
Printed on reverse side of select TACs and depict flight paths recommended to avoid high traffic areas.
What is an “isogonic line”?
Shown on most aeronautical charts as a broken magenta line. expresses east or west deviation of the magnetic north from true north.
What is “magnetic variation”?
Variation is the angle between true north and magnetic north.
How do you convert a true direction to a magnetic direction?
East is least (subtract) West is best (add)
What are lines of latitude and longitude?
Parallel circular lines that allow us to measure distance in degrees from the equator (latitude) or the prime meridian (longitude).
What is “magnetic deviation”?
Because of magnetic influences within the airplane, the compass needle is frequently deflected from its normal reading. Deviation is different in each aircraft and can be found on a deviation card in the airplane.
Name several types of radio aids to air navigation. At least three.
NDB (Nondirectional Radio Beacon) VOR (Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range) VORTAC (VHF Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air Navigation) DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) RNAV (Area Navigation, includes GPS)
What is a VOR?
VHF radio stations that project radials in all directions.
What is a VORTAC?
A VOR that provides the standard bearing information of a VOR plus distance information for aircraft equipped with DME.
Within what frequency do VORs operate?
VHF between 108 and 117.95
What is a VOR “radial”?
Line of magnetic bearing extending from a VOR
How are VOR NAVAIDs classified?
Terminal Low High
What limitations apply to VOR reception distances?
Subject to line of sight restrictions and range varies with altitude of the receiving equipment.
What is an NDB?
A nondirectional beacon; sends signals across a frequency where a pilot can “track” to the station.
What is ADF?
Automatic Direction Finder - equipment that can track an NDB.
What are some of the advantages of ADF for navigation?
Low cost Low-medium frequencies not effected by line-of-sight limitation
What are some disadvantages of ADF for navigation?
Low frequencies are susceptible to electrical disturbances (ie thunder storms)
What are the normal usable service ranges for the various class NDBs?
Compass Locator - 15NM MH - 25NM H - 50NM HH - 75NM
What is “DME”?
Distance Measuring Equipment - provides distance and ground speed information when receiving a VORTAC facility
Give a brief explanation of GPS.
Global positioning system is a satellite-based radio navigation system that broadcasts a signal used by receivers to determine a precise position anywhere in the world.