Navigation 1/4

Question 1

Planning includes:

Answer 1

1. Plotting the course
2. Selecting checkpoints
3. Measuring distances
4. Obtaining pertinent weather info
5. Computing flight time, headings, and fuel use

Question 2

Name 3 methods of navigation

Answer 2

1. Pilotage
2. Navigating by reference to visual landmarks
3. Dead reckoning
4. Computations of direction
5. Distance from a known position
6. Radio navigation by use of radio aids

Question 3

What map is used by a pilot flying under VFR?

Answer 3

An aeronautical map

Question 4

Name the 3 aeronautical charts used by pilots and which one is most commonly used?

Answer 4

1. Sectional (most common)
2. VFR Terminal Area (TAC)
3. World Aeronautical (WAC)

Question 5

Describe the scale of aeronautical charts

Answer 5

1 to 500,000

1 inch equals 6.86 nautical miles (approximately 8 statute miles)

Question 6

What kind of info does an aeronautical chart provide?

Answer 6

Airport data
Navigational aids
Airspace
Topography

Question 7

How often are sectional charts revised?

Answer 7

Semi-annually

Question 8

When are VFR TACs helpful?

Answer 8

TACs (or Terminal Area Charts) are helpful when flying in or near Class B airspace

Question 9

Describe the scale of VFR TACs

Answer 9

1 to 250,000

1 inch equals 3.43 nautical miles (approx 4 statute miles)

Question 10

What do TACs provide a more detailed display of?

Answer 10

The provide a more detailed display of topographical information and are revised semi-annually, except for several Alaskan and Caribbean charts

Question 11

Describe what World Aeronautical Charts provide and their scale

Answer 11

Designed to provide a standard set of charts covering land areas of the world, at a size and scale more practical for longer flights and faster aircraft than sectional charts.

Similar to sectional charts. Same symbols but less detail due to smaller scale

Revised annually (except several Alaskan charts & the Mexican-Caribbean chart which are revised every 2 years)

1 to 1 million
1 inch = 13.7nm = 16sm

Question 12

Differentiate latitude and longitude

Answer 12

Latitude runs parallel with the equator, longitude is perpendicular to the equator. Latitude is used to measure degrees of latitude north and south of the equator. The angular distance from the equator to a pole is 90deg. Most US states lie between 25deg and 49deg North Latitude.

Prime Meridian is considered 0deg with meridians up to 180deg east and west of it. Most of the US lies between 67deg and 125deg West longitude.

Question 13

How many degrees does the earth rotate per hour? How does this relate to time zones.

Answer 13

15 degrees per hour. For any given meridian, noon is the time when the sun is directly above. To the west is morning and to the east is afternoon. There is a 1 hour difference between each zone.

Question 14

Name each time zone from the east side of the US to the west side of the US, along with their longitudinal meridians. If it is 1PM eastern time, what time is in the other time zones?

Answer 14

Eastern 75deg, Central 90deg, Mountain 105deg, Pacific 120deg.

Eastern 1PM
Central 12PM
Mountain 11AM
Pacific 10AM

Question 15

Traveling in which direction across the US causes you to lose 1 hour across each time zone?

Answer 15

Traveling East causes an hour to be lost as you pass each time zone.

Question 16

What is UTC aka Zulu time?

Answer 16

Universal Coordinated Time. UTC is the time at the 0deg meridian (longitude) and does not participate in Daylight Saving Time. All time zones around the world are based on this UTC.

Question 17

How do you convert to UTC from each time zone?

Answer 17

From east to west across the US, add an hour to 5.
EST + 5 hours
CST + 6 hours
MST + 7 hours
PST + 8 hours

ECMP

Question 18

To indicate a course to be followed in flight, a line can be drawn from your point of departure to a destination. The direction is measured in degrees in a clockwise direction from true north. Why should course measurement be taken at a meridian near the midpoint of the course? What is the course measured on the chart known as?

Answer 18

Because meridians converge near the poles, rather than at the point of departure.

Known as the True Course

Question 19

Give an official definition of the True Course

Answer 19

The direction of intended flight, measured in degrees clockwise from true north by reference to a meridian (true north).

Question 20

What is the reverse of any true course called?

Answer 20

True course reciprocal

Question 21

Define True Heading (TH)

Answer 21

The direction in which the aircraft is pointed during the flight, measured in degrees clockwise from true north.

Question 22

Define Variation

Answer 22

The angle between True North and Magnetic North

Question 23

Describe the difference between the magnetic North Pole and true North Pole.

Answer 23

The magnetic North Pole is located near 71degN 96degW, about 1300 miles from the geographic true north pole.

Question 24

What are isotonic lines?

Answer 24

Lines on charts or maps depicting locations with equal magnetic variation. On most aeronautical charts they show up as broken magenta lines

Question 25

In the western parts of the US, the compass needles point where? What about the eastern parts of the US?

Answer 25

Western: needles point east of true north
Easter: needles point west of true north

Question 26

What is the Agonic Line?

Answer 26

This is where zero degrees of variation occurs. A compass needle will point to true north because magnetic north and true north coincide.

Question 27

Why must true direction be converted into magnetic direction for the purpose of flight?

Answer 27

Because courses are measured in reference to geographical meridians which point towards true north and these courses are maintained by reference to the compass which points along a magnetic meridian in the general direction of magnetic north. This conversion is accomplished by adding or subtracting the magnetic variation (indicated by the nearest isogonic line on the chart) from a true direction.

Question 28

A line drawn between two points on a chart is called what? Is it accurate? Why?

Answer 28

A true course, as it is measured from true north. However flying this course off of a magnetic compass would not provide an accurate course between the two points due to three elements that must be considered:

1. Magnetic Variation
2. Compass Deviation
3. Wind Correction

Question 29

The pilot must add or subtract magnetic influencers based on what? How do you compensate? What does it become?

Answer 29

Because each aircraft has its own internal effect upon the onward compass system from its own localized magnetic influencers, the pilot must add or subtract magnetic influencers based upon the direction he/she is flying. Use a compass deviation card to compensate the magnetic course unique to that aircraft’s compass system. Now it becomes the compass course.

Question 30

If variation is west, do what? If variation is east, do what?

Answer 30

West variation: add (west is best, add)

East variation: subtract (east is least, subtract)

Question 31

Where do you find a deviation card?

Answer 31

It is mounted near the compass

Question 32

The magnetic heading when corrected for deviation is known as

Answer 32

Compass heading

Question 33

What is WCA?

Answer 33

Wind correction angle - it is expressed in degrees left or right of the course.