PPL Oral - Cross Country Planning Flashcards
What are the 3 most common ways to navigate?
Pilotage - Referencing visual landmarks
Dead Reckoning - Computing direction and distance from a known position
Radio Navigation - Using VORs or NDBs
*BONUS
GPS - Using a combination of satellites, ground stations, and aircraft equipment to navigate
What type of aeronautical charts are available for VFR navigation?
- Sectional Chart - Visual navigation. Slow medium speed aircraft. 1 in = 6.86 nm. Revised twice per year
- Terminal Area Chart - More detailed version of Class B airspace from Sectional Chart. 1in = 3.43 nm. Revised twice per year
- VFR Flyway Charts - Same Scale as TAC. Shows flight paths and altitudes recommended for bypassing Class B airspace
Are EFBs an approved replacement for paper charts in the cockpit?
Yes but the EFB must be functional and have up to date charts. You should have a backup paper chart in case the EFB fails
What are Isogonic lines?
Broken magenta lines on a sectional chart that DEPICT lines of equal magnetic variation. Show the amount and direction of magnetic variation.
What is Magnetic Variation?
The angular difference between True North and Magnetic North. Expressed as East or Westward variation.
East is Least (-), West is Best (+)
How would you convert a True direction into a Magnetic direction?
Use the nearest Isogonic line on the sectional chart and..
East is Least (-), West is Best (+) (FROM your True direction)
What are lines of Longitude and Latitude?
Imaginary lines that encircle the earth to the left and right, and up and down.
Lines of Latitude run parallel to the Equator and lines of Longitude run north and south, starting at the Prime Meridian
What is Magnetic Deviation?
The electronics of the aircraft create a magnetic field which can cause our Magnetic Compass to have slight errors.
Name several types of Navigational Aids
VOR - Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range
VORTAC - Tactical Air Navigation (most have DME)
DME - Distance Measuring Equipment
RNAV - Area Navigation (GPS, VOR/DME referenced, and INS)
What is a VOR/VORTAC
Radio stations that project radials in all directions from the station.
Almost all VORs are also VORTACs (Tactical Air Navigation) and have DME
What is a VOR radial?
A line of magnetic bearing extending FROM a VOR.
How are VORs classified?
Terminal - Least amount of range
Low - Good amount of range
High - Best range
What limitations apply to VOR reception?
Subject to line of sight
Range varies based on how high the receiving aircraft is. Being higher will get you more range.
What is the Cone of Confusion in respect to VORs?
When the aircraft gets vary close to the station, the needle will act vary sporadically and eventually flip its indication to the opposite that you were tracking. (TO or FROM)
What is reverse sensing in respect to VORs?
Happens when you track TO or FROM a station using the wrong flag. In this scenario, if you are off course the needle will deflect the in OPOSITE direction of where you actually need to go to get back on course.
Example: Flying TO a station with the radial you are ON and not the radial that corresponds to your heading.
: Flying away FROM a station with a TO flag.
How do you check the accuracy of your VOR equipment?
- Tune to a VOT from the Chart Supplement
- Center the needle on either 0 degrees with a FROM, or 180 degrees with a TO.
- If you are on the ground, needle should be centered at 0 or 180 +- 4 degrees.
If you are in the air, needle should be centered at 0 or 180 +- 6 degrees
What is DME?
Distance Measuring Equipment
Measures the Slant Range in NM from the station.
Can provide distance and ground speed info and usually paired with a VOR
Give a simple explanation of GPS
Satellite based, radio navigation system.
Multiple signals are tracked by receivers in the aircraft to determine a precise location.
Describe the 3 functional elements of GPS
Space element - 30 Satellites
Control element - Network of ground based stations used to monitor accuracy
User element - antennas and receiver processors onboard the aircraft that interpret signals to provide accurate positioning, velocity, and precise timing.
Describe the different types of GPS receivers
Vary from..
Fully integrated VFR/IFR used to support VFR ops
Handheld devices used for referencing
Where do you find RAIM availability information?
To find outage information:
1. A manufacturer provided RAIM prediction tool (GARMIN RAIM Prediction website)
- Using the FAAs Service Availability Prediction Tool (SAPT).
- Request RAIM information from FSS during preflight briefings
If RAIM capability is lost during flight, can you continue to use the GPS for navigation?
Yes but it is not advisable.
You now have NO assurance of GPS accuracy.
Primarily use other means of navigation and rely on the GPS as backup confirmation.
What preflight checks of the GPS system should be made before using it for navigation?
- Verify equipment is installed and certified for your operation
- Make sure databases is up to date.
- Review GPS NOTAMs and RAIM outage information
- Make sure VOR Test is up to date in case you need to use them
- Make sure the GPS manual is in the aircraft
How do you know your GPS is approved for your type of operation?
Review the AFM.
Most systems require the manual to be in the aircraft.
Will an FSS briefing automatically provide GPS/WAAS NOTAMS?
No, you must ask for them.
What is RAIM?
- Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring
- It is a monitoring system for the GPS to ensure accurate signals are being received from satellites.
- It will alert the pilot when RAIM determines that the signals do not meet the criteria for safe navigation.
How many Satellites does a GPS need to compute its position?
3 Sats = 2D position only. Lat
and long
4 Sats = 3D position only. Lat,
Long, and altitude
5 Sats = 3D and RAIM
6 Sats = 3D + RAIM AND can
remove corrupt signals
What is WAAS
Wide Area Augmentation System
- Ground + Satellite error correction system.
- Provides accuracy enhancements to GPS signals
- EXTREMELY accurate
For aircraft with GPS/WAAS TSO C-146 equipment
What limitations should you keep in mind when using GPS? Handheld or panel mount.
RAIM - Many GPS units don’t have it and therefore have no way to determine accuracy
Database Currency - Make sure your charts are up to date
Antenna Location - Signals may be blocked, especially when using handheld GPS.
What is a VFR Waypoint?
- Used to assist with VFR navigation using a GPS (RNAV)
- Provide assistance to pilots unfamiliar with an area
- Start with VP and look like a star
- Sometimes associated with VFR checkpoint flats
What happens if you forget to activate your flight plan?
FSS will hold your flight plan for 1hr after your listed dep time. After that they will cancel it.
What would you do if you were on a X country flight and had low fuel, deteriorating weather, and nightfall was approaching?
Land at the closest suitable airfield immediately.
What should you do if you are completely unsure of your location?
Use the 5 Cs
- Climb/Circle - For better radio
reception for comms and VORs. Circle so you dont get more lost.. - Conserve - Save on fuel because you don’t
know how long you will be lost - Confess - Admit to the people
who can help you that you
messed up and are now lost. - Communicate - Find a nearby
ATC freq, find an FSS, contact
emergency frequency (121.5)
and ask for help. Squawk 7700 - Comply - Follow the
instructions given to get you
to safety
How would you navigate to an alternate if you had no GPS or DME?
- Select the alternate
- Approximate your magnetic course using a straight edge and a compass rose from a nearby VOR (because radials are magnetic)
- Use the scale at the bottom of the chart for distance
- Start your diversion over a prominent ground feature if you can. This will aid navigation
- Once on course, use winds aloft to calculate HDG and GS
- Adjust altitude as needed
*Be snappy with this and don’t dwell on the details. Just get going in the right direction and fine tune later.
What is the most common type of radio communication equipment?
VHF
What is the frequency range of VHF communication equipment?
118.0-136.975