Cross Country Planning

Question 1

Cold air is more dense than hot-air, so your plane will:

Answer 1

• Perform better
• It will feel like it’s flying at a lower atltitude

Question 2

Is Dry Air more or less dense than Humid Air?

Answer 2

• It is more dense
• Flying in 0% humidity will result in better airplane performance

Question 3

What does low density altitude do to airplane performance?

Answer 3

1. Your a/c will feel like it’s flying lower to the ground
2. Molecules are packed together tighter
3. Cold, High Pressure, and Dry = Better a/c performance

Question 4

What does High Density Altitude do to your a/c performance?

Answer 4

1. Your a/c will feel like it’s flying at a higher altitude ie poor performance
2. Molecules are spread out
3. Hot, Low Pressure and Humidity = High Density Altitude

Question 5

Pressure Altitude Formula

Answer 5

(Standard Pressure setting - Current pressure setting) x 1,000 + Field Elevation = Pressure Altitude

Question 6

Density Altitude Formula

Answer 6

(Current Temp - Standard Temp) x 120 + Pressure Altitude

Question 7

Absolute Ceiling is defined as:

Answer 7

The point where Vx & Vy converge. At this point an a/c will not be able to climb anymore

Question 8

A single engine aircraft is only able to achieve a max climb rate of 100’/min. This is also called:

Answer 8

Service Ceiling

Question 9

How to calculate the Time to Reach Cruise?

Answer 9

Altitude to Ascend / Ft per Minute = Time to Reach Climb

(D/S = T)

Question 10

Calculating Distance to Reach Cruise

Answer 10

Speed x Time = Distance to reach Cruise

Question 11

Fuel req to reach cruise altitude formula?

Answer 11

Time to Reach Cruise x Fuel Burn = Fuel Required to Reach Cruise

Question 12

When predicting cruise performance you should:

Answer 12

• 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)

Question 13

3 Ways to Navigate if you’re lost

Answer 13

1. Pilotage (using references)
2. Dead Reckoning (Math finding the variation of wind)
3. Radio Navigation (GPS, VORs)

Question 14

VOR

Answer 14

VHF Omnidirectional Radio Range

Question 15

Different VOR

Answer 15

VORTAC
VOR
VOR-DME

Question 16

VORTAC

Answer 16

-Same as a VOR: TAC is a military function

Question 17

Best Rate of Descent

Answer 17

500’/min

Question 18

Speed formula

Answer 18

Speed = D / T

Question 19

Distance Formula

Answer 19

Distance = S x T

Question 20

Time Formula

Answer 20

Time = D / S

Question 21

Calculating Time to Top of Climb

Answer 21

T = D/S

D: Cruise Alt. - Field Elev.
S: Climb Rate per Feet (700’)

Question 22

Calculating ground distance to top of climb

Answer 22

1. Calculate time to top of climb (T=Cruise/ROC)
2. Ground Speed ( Calculates in the WCA)

Time to Top of Climb x Ground Speed = Distance Over Ground to TOC

Question 23

Calculating TOD time:

Answer 23

1. Rate of Descent = 500’ per min
2. Altitude

Altitude / Rate of Descent
(D/S = T)

Question 24

How to find where you are using a VOR?

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

How many times zones are in the continental US?

Answer 25

- Eastern - Central - Mountain - Pacific

Question 26

For each 15 degree of longitude, is equal to how much time?

Answer 26

1 hour

Question 27

The mountain, eastern, pacific and central time zones are located at what degree of longitude?

Answer 27

- Eastern : 75 degrees - Central : 90 degrees - Mountain : 105 degrees - Pacific : 120 degrees

Question 28

UTC time zone is located at what degree? and how can you calculate the difference in time between each time zone and UTC?

Answer 28

- 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

Question 29

Define "true course":

Answer 29

- 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

Question 30

Define "true heading":

Answer 30

- 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"

Question 31

Define "magnetic heading":

Answer 31

- Your "true heading" (found by correcting your TC for wind), corrected for magnetic variation (found on sectional chart)

Question 32

Define "magnetic course":

Answer 32

- 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

Question 33

What's a good checkpoint to have during a XC flight?

Answer 33

A landmark you're familiar with, so you can check off your checkpoints easily

Question 34

What is magnetic course?

Answer 34

Your true course (TC) corrected for magnetic variation (east is least west is best)

Question 35

When leveling off at top of climb, it's best to have a:

Answer 35

- Visual indication to mark as a checkpoint

Question 36

What should checkpoints be?

Answer 36

- Landmarks - Mountains - Highways - Cities - Unique terrain - Airports

Question 37

What are Victor airways?

Answer 37

They're protected VFR routes and can be used for planning routes

Question 38

Are VOR's calibrated for magnetic variation?

Answer 38

Yes

Question 39

How many minutes are there in between latitude and longitude grids?

Answer 39

60 minutes, with halfway in between at 30 minutes

Question 40

What are the oxygen requirements?

Answer 40

- 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

Question 41

What is hypoxia?

Answer 41

The lack of oxygen to the vital organs

Question 42

What's the difference between proficient vs. current?

Answer 42

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.)