PPL navigation

What are 3 common ways to navigate

Know approximate position at all times or be able to determine it at will; 3 ways to do this:

A) pilotage — reference to visible landmarks

B) dead reackoning — compute direction and distance from a known position

C) radio navigation — use of radio aids

PHAK

What type of aeronautical charts are available for use in VFR navigation?

AIM 9-1-4

A) sectional charts — designed for visual nav in slow to medium speed aircraft; 1 IN = 6.86 NM; revised semiannually, Alaska annually

B) VFR terminal area charts (TACs) — depict class B airspace; more detailed than sectionals due to larger scale; 1 IN = 3.43 NM; revised semiannually, PR & Virgin Islands annually

C) VFR flyway planning charts — printed on TAC reverse; covers same areas as TAC; depict flight altitudes recommended for use to bypass high traffic areas

Are EFB approved for use in replacement of paper reference material (POH, supplements, charts) in the cockpit?

AC 91-78

YES; so long as:

— info displayed is functional equivalent of paper reference material replaced
— info is current, up-to-date, & valid
— paper backups recommended

Isogonic line

Broken magenta lines that connect points of equal magnetic variation; show amount and direction of magnetic variation

PHAK

Magnetic variaton

Angle between true north (TN) and magnetic north (MN)

Expressed as east variation or west variation, depending on whether MN is to the east or west of TN

PHAK

Converting true direction to magnetic direction

True course or heading to magnetic course or heading:

Note variation shown by nearest isogonic line (E-, W+): East is Least, West is Best!

PHAK

Lines of latitude and longitude

Parallels of latitude: circles parallel to the equator, lines running east to west; allow us to measure distance in degrees latitude north or south of equator

Meridians of longitude: lines drawn from N Pole to S Pole that pass through the equator at right angles

Prime Meridian: passes thru Greenwich, England; used as zero line from which measurements are made in *E and *W, up to 180*

USA: 25*N — 49*N, 67*W — 125*W

PHAK

Magnetic deviaiton

Magnetic compass needle deflection caused by magnetic influences (avionics, engine, lights)

Different for each airplane, varies for different headings of same airplane

Deviation values found on deviation card located in airplane

PHAK

NAVAIDs

A) VOR — VHF omnidirectional range

B) VORTAC — VHF omnidirectional range + Tactical Air Nav

C) DME — distance measuring equipment

D) RNAV (area nav) includes INS, VOR/DME-referenced, and GPS


AIM 1-1-3 — 1-1-7; 1-1-17

VOR, VORTAC

VHF radio stations that project radials 360* from the staton; each radial denoted by its outbound magnetic direction

Most VORs will be VORTACs (VOR-tactical air nav), providing standard bearing info from VOR and DME info, if aircraft is DME equipped

PHAK

Within which frequency range do VORs operate?

VHF band: 108 MHz — 117.95 MHz

(Immediately below aviation communication frequencies)

PHAK

VOR radial

A line of magnetic bearing extending from an omnidirectional range (VOR)

VOR NAVAID classifications

Terminal, Low, and High

AIM 1-1-8

Expected reception distances for various class of VOR

T — 12K FT & below — 25 MI

L — below 18K FT — 40 MI

H — below 18K FT — 40 MI

H — 14,5K FT — 17,999 FT — 100 MI (CONUS only)

H — 18K FT — FL450 — 130 MI

H — above FL450 — 100 MI


PHAK

What limitations apply to VOR reception distances?

VORs subject to line-of-sight restrictions; range varies proportionally to altitude of receiving equipment

AIM 1-1-3

Methods for checking accuracy of VOR receiver equipment

A) VOT check — (+/-) 4*

B) ground checkpoint — (+/-) 4*

C) airborne checkpoint — (+/-) 6*

D) dual VOR check — 4* differential

E) selected radial over known ground point* — (+/-) 6

** known ground and airborne check points and VOTs published in US Chart Supplment


AIM 1-1-4; CFR 91.171

Distance Measuring Equipment (DME)

Measures aircraft’s slant range distance from DME in nautical miles (NM)

Distance and ground speed information available when receiving VORTAC or TACAN facility

UHF band: 960 MHz — 1215 MHz

AIM 1-1-7

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Satellite-based radio nav system that broadcasts a signal used by receivers to determine precise position anywhere in the world

Receiver tracks multiple satellites and determines a pseudo-range measurement used to determine user's location

AIM 1-1-17

3 functional elements of GPS

Space element — 30 satellites

Control element — network of ground-based GPS monitoring and control stations that ensure accuracy of satellite positions and their clocks

User element — antennas and receiver-processors onboard aircraft that provide positioning, velocity, and precise timing

Instrument Flying Handbook

Different types of GPS receivers available for use

Range from fully integrated IFR/VFR installations used to support VFR ops to handheld devices**

**pilots must understand limitations of receivers prior to using inflight to avoid misusing nav info

AIM 1-1-17

RAIM

Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring

— Self-monitoring function performed by GPS receiver to ensure adequate GPS signals are being received from satellites at all times

— GPS will alert pilot whenever integrity monitoring determines GPS signals do not meet criteria for safe nav use

Advanced Avionics Handbook

Where can a pilot obtain RAIM availability information?

1) using manufacturer-supplied RAIM prediction tool

2) using Service Availability Prediction Tool (SAPT) on FAA enroute and terminal

3) request GPS RAIM aeronautical information from FSS during preflight briefing

If RAIM is lost inflight, is GPS still reliable for use inflight?

NO

— without RAIM capability, no assurance of GPS accuracy

** VFR GPS panel-mount receivers and handheld units have no RAIM alerting capability; prevents pilot from being alerted to loss of required number of satellites in view, or detection of a position error

PHAK, AIM 1-1-17

GPS equipment basic preflight checks

A) verify GPS equipment is properly installed and certified for the planned operation

B) verify databases are current :: nav, terrain, obstacle

C) review GPS NOTAM/RAIM info related to planned flight route

D) review operational status of ground-based NAVAIDs and associated aircraft equipment appropriate to route of flight (30-day VOR check)

E) ensure GPS receiver operation manual or airplane flight manual supplement is onboard & available for use

Instrument Procedures Handbook