What you will learn
- Plan and execute a VFR cross-country flight using pilotage and dead reckoning.
- Track VOR radials, intercept courses, and identify station passage.
- Program and use GPS/RNAV for en route and approach navigation.
- Read sectional charts and identify airspace, terrain, and obstacles.
- Calculate wind correction angles, groundspeed, and fuel requirements using an E6B.
Topics covered
Pilotage
Visual navigation using landmarks, checkpoints, terrain features, and map-to-ground correlation techniques.
Dead Reckoning
Navigation by heading, airspeed, and time. Wind correction angles, groundspeed calculations, and ETA estimation.
VOR Navigation
VOR station identification, radial tracking, course intercepts, CDI interpretation, and VOR checks (VOT, ground checkpoint).
GPS & RNAV
GPS/WAAS fundamentals, RNAV waypoints, flight plan programming, RAIM, database currency, and GPS approaches.
Sectional & IFR Charts
Chart symbology, terrain depiction, airspace boundaries, MEAs, MOCAs, and en route chart interpretation.
Flight Computers & E6B
Time-speed-distance, fuel consumption, density altitude, true airspeed, wind components, and unit conversions.
Cross-Country Planning
Route selection, checkpoint identification, fuel planning, weight and balance, NOTAMs, and flight plan filing.
Lost Procedures & Diversions
What to do when lost, VOR triangulation, radar vectors, diversion planning, and fuel management during diversions.
Prerequisites
- •Basic understanding of heading, altitude, and airspeed.
- •Familiarity with the compass and magnetic variation concepts.