Cross Country Planning Flashcards
Cold air is more dense than hot-air, so your plane will:
- Perform better
- It will feel like it’s flying at a lower atltitude
Is Dry Air more or less dense than Humid Air?
- It is more dense
- Flying in 0% humidity will result in better airplane performance
What does low density altitude do to airplane performance?
- Your a/c will feel like it’s flying lower to the ground
- Molecules are packed together tighter
- Cold, High Pressure, and Dry = Better a/c performance
What does High Density Altitude do to your a/c performance?
- Your a/c will feel like it’s flying at a higher altitude ie poor performance
- Molecules are spread out
- Hot, Low Pressure and Humidity = High Density Altitude
Pressure Altitude Formula
(Standard Pressure setting - Current pressure setting) x 1,000 + Field Elevation = Pressure Altitude
Density Altitude Formula
(Current Temp - Standard Temp) x 120 + Pressure Altitude
Absolute Ceiling is defined as:
The point where Vx & Vy converge. At this point an a/c will not be able to climb anymore
A single engine aircraft is only able to achieve a max climb rate of 100’/min. This is also called:
Service Ceiling
How to calculate the Time to Reach Cruise?
Altitude to Ascend / Ft per Minute = Time to Reach Climb
(D/S = T)
Calculating Distance to Reach Cruise
Speed x Time = Distance to reach Cruise
Fuel req to reach cruise altitude formula?
Time to Reach Cruise x Fuel Burn = Fuel Required to Reach Cruise
When predicting cruise performance you should:
- Err on the side of caution and overestimate critical values (i.e. fuel burn, time etc.)
- Keep in mind winds aloft. Headwinds will increase time enroute and decrease range
- Elect proper cruise speed is important for calculating fuel burn (i.e. economy vs. performance)
3 Ways to Navigate if you’re lost
- Pilotage (using references)
- Dead Reckoning (Math finding the variation of wind)
- Radio Navigation (GPS, VORs)
VOR
VHF Omnidirectional Radio Range
Different VOR
VORTAC
VOR
VOR-DME
VORTAC
-Same as a VOR: TAC is a military function
Best Rate of Descent
500’/min
Speed formula
Speed = D / T
Distance Formula
Distance = S x T
Time Formula
Time = D / S
Calculating Time to Top of Climb
T = D/S
D: Cruise Alt. - Field Elev.
S: Climb Rate per Feet (700’)
Calculating ground distance to top of climb
- Calculate time to top of climb (T=Cruise/ROC)
- Ground Speed ( Calculates in the WCA)
Time to Top of Climb x Ground Speed = Distance Over Ground to TOC
Calculating TOD time:
- Rate of Descent = 500’ per min
- Altitude
Altitude / Rate of Descent
(D/S = T)
How to find where you are using a VOR?
Turn the OBD dial on the VOR until the “From” indicator is shown, and the line is center. You are on that radial from the respective VOR.
How many times zones are in the continental US?
- Eastern
- Central
- Mountain
- Pacific
For each 15 degree of longitude, is equal to how much time?
1 hour
The mountain, eastern, pacific and central time zones are located at what degree of longitude?
- Eastern : 75 degrees
- Central : 90 degrees
- Mountain : 105 degrees
- Pacific : 120 degrees
UTC time zone is located at what degree? and how can you calculate the difference in time between each time zone and UTC?
- 0 degrees
- Divide the time zone degrees by 15 to figure the difference and add that number to the hours to get UTC time
or
- Memorize:
EST= add 5 hrs
CST= add 6 hrs
MST = add 7 hrs
PST = add 8 hrs
Define “true course”:
- True course is your actual ground track over the earth in reference to true north; this is measured on a sectional map with a plotter to set your course before correcting for wind, and variation
Define “true heading”:
- Your true course corrected for wind; using the wind side of the E6b you would correct for wind using your “true course” that was marked on a sectional chart to find your “true heading”
Define “magnetic heading”:
- Your “true heading” (found by correcting your TC for wind), corrected for magnetic variation (found on sectional chart)
Define “magnetic course”:
- Your “true course” (TC) corrected for magnetic variation. Remember that your true course is the line drawn on a sectional chart as a direct line between points A and B
What’s a good checkpoint to have during a XC flight?
A landmark you’re familiar with, so you can check off your checkpoints easily
What is magnetic course?
Your true course (TC) corrected for magnetic variation (east is least west is best)
When leveling off at top of climb, it’s best to have a:
- Visual indication to mark as a checkpoint
What should checkpoints be?
- Landmarks
- Mountains
- Highways
- Cities
- Unique terrain
- Airports
What are Victor airways?
They’re protected VFR routes and can be used for planning routes
Are VOR’s calibrated for magnetic variation?
Yes
How many minutes are there in between latitude and longitude grids?
60 minutes, with halfway in between at 30 minutes
What are the oxygen requirements?
- Above 12,500’ MSL for more than 30 min. required crew must use oxygen
- Above 14,000’ MSL oxygen must be used at all times
- Above 15,000’ MSL oxygen must be used, but must be offered to pax but not required for pax to accept
What is hypoxia?
The lack of oxygen to the vital organs
What’s the difference between proficient vs. current?
Currency keeps me legal to fly (i.e. medical, certified, valid ID etc.); proficiency is my skill to keep passengers alive (i.e. my skills of flying an airplane, how frequent I’ve flown in the last 12 mos vs. 6 mos, vs. 3 mos etc.)
