Wind

Question 1

True Course

Answer 1

Intended/proposed course as measured off of the “true” north. Not a magnetic angle

Wind at 270 means a wind coming towards me from 270* TRUE. Headwind = no drift.

Question 2

Actual flight path

Drift correction

Answer 2

Where you have actually flown due to outside factors.

The small angle shift in flight path that maintains the aircraft in the true heading

Question 3

True heading

Answer 3

Where the aircraft is pointed to negate the effects of wind - keeps the air raft on the “true” path.

True Course - Drift Correction = True Heading

Question 4

Drift Angle

Answer 4

The difference between the True heading (TH) and the Track (TR)

We want the TRACK to be the same as the true course desired, but there can be variances

On a return flight, we can use the DRIFT ANGLE (actual) instead of the Drift Correction (computed) to reach our destination accurately.

Question 5

TC = TR

Answer 5

No wind condition

Headwind/tailwind

Question 6

Airspeed

Answer 6

ONLY GROUND SPEED is affected by wind.

20kt Head wind at hover - ground speed is 0knots
20kt head wind at hover - indicated airspeed is 20knots

Question 7

Magnetic Variation

Answer 7

Angular difference between true north and magnetic north

Represented on the sectional chart as a magenta dashed line that goes across entire map.

The AGONIC line is the zero variation line, whereas the other isogonic lines show EQUAL variation

Question 8

Magnetic heading

Answer 8

Measured from the nose of the aircraft CLOCKWISE by magnetic variation

Question 9

Easterly variation

Answer 9

Compass needle points EAST of True North.

So when east of agonic line (Florida Atlantic coast to Milwaukee), true north is found by SUBTRACTING the isogonic measurement from the MAGNETIC heading

Question 10

Magnetic Course for flight

Answer 10

Find center of course line

Find nearest WHOLE isogenic line: use that value to calculate the magnetic course

West is a cw direction - ADD from TH to get MH
East is a ccw direction - SUBTRACT from TH for MH

VAR - variation (not declination) is the difference between true and magnetic north

Question 11

Planning

Answer 11

Planning procedures

• Gather required flight info
• Complete VFR flight log (knee board)
• Complete and file Flight Plan (turn in to base ops)

AR 95-1

• PPC
• departure, enroute, approach data
• NOTAMS
• Host country or theater requirements

Weather

• minimum 1000ft, 3sm vis for takeoff
• enroute weather requirements
• hazard charts
• weather briefing before flight
• dash 1 has MEF on opposite side
• weather minimums for flight must last for your ETA plus one hour!!

NOTAM - www.notams.faa.gov (ARTS has link)