Cross-Country Flight Planning
How to Make a Nav Log
References
• PHAK Chapter 16 - Navigation
• Aeronautical Chart Users Guide
• AFM/POH
• Sectional/TAC Charts
• E6B & Plotter
• Flight Plan Form
• Aviation Weather Center (aviationweather.gov)
Introduction
• Air navigation is the process of piloting an aircraft from one geographic position to another while monitoring one’s
positions as the flight progresses
• It introduces the need for:
o Plotting courses
o Selecting checkpoints
o Measuring distances
o Obtaining weather information
o Computing flight time, headings, and fuel requirements
• Navigation is performed through:
o Pilotage – navigating by reference to visible landmarks
o Dead reckoning – computations of time and distance
o Radio navigation – use of radio navigation aids
Overview
• Aeronautical Charts
• Latitude and Longitude
• Types of Airspeed
• Basic Calculations and Tools
• Pilotage
• Dead Reckoning
• Radio Navigation
• Flight Planning
• Charting the Course (VFR Nav Log)
• Filing a VFR Flight Plan
• Lost Procedures
• Flight Diversion
Aeronautical Charts
• Road map for a pilot flying under VFR
• Two aeronautical charts used by VFR pilots:
o Sectional
▪ Most commonly used
▪ Includes airport data, navigational aids, airspace, topography
▪ Revised semiannually
o Terminal Area
1
, ▪ Helpful when flying in or near Class B airspace
▪ Provide a more detailed display
▪ Revised semiannually
• Don’t forget about the Chart Legend and the Aeronautical Chart Users Guide!
Latitude and Longitude
• See PHAK Figure 16-4
• Lines parallel to the equator (east and west) are lines of latitude
o Used to measure degrees north or south
• Lines perpendicular (90 degrees) to the equator are lines of longitude
• Prime Meridian is “zero” longitude line and passes through Greenwich, England
• Any specific geographical point can be located by reference to its longitude and latitude
Time Zones
• See PHAK Figure 16-5
• Time zones established for each 15 degrees of longitude
o Four time zones in US: Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific
• Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) or “Zulu” time is used in aviation for standardization
o Due to the fact that pilots often cross several time zones during a flight
o UTC is the time at the zero degree line of longitude that passes through Greenwich, England
o Time can easily be converted back and forth from local to UTC by adding or subtracting
▪ Don’t forget about Daylight Saving Time (1 hour should be subtracted)
Measurements of Direction
• See PHAK Figure 16-8 through Figure 16-17
• True Course: course drawn on the chart from point to point and measured by reference to true north
• Wind Correction Angle: correction applied to the True Course to establish a heading so that the track coincides with
the course
• True Heading: direction in which the nose of the aircraft points during a flight with respect to true north; different
from true course due to the effects of wind
• Magnetic Variation: the angle between truth north and magnetic north
o Indicated by broken magenta lines called isogonic lines
o East is least (subtract), West is best (add)
• Magnetic Course: True Course corrected for Magnetic Variation; used for determining cruise altitudes above 3000’
AGL
• Magnetic Heading: True Heading corrected for Magnetic Variation
• Magnetic Deviation: error induced in a compass by local magnetic fields (electrical circuits, radio, lights, engine, etc)
o Indicated by Compass Deviation Card in aircraft (which is required to fly)
• Compass Heading: Magnetic Heading corrected for Magnetic Deviation; heading that you will fly with reference to
the compass or HI
To summarize:
Course – intended path of an aircraft over the ground
Heading – direction in which the nose of the aircraft points
Track – actual path made over the ground
Drift angle – angle between heading and track
WCA – correction applied to the course to establish a heading so that track coincides with course
Types of Airspeed
2
How to Make a Nav Log
References
• PHAK Chapter 16 - Navigation
• Aeronautical Chart Users Guide
• AFM/POH
• Sectional/TAC Charts
• E6B & Plotter
• Flight Plan Form
• Aviation Weather Center (aviationweather.gov)
Introduction
• Air navigation is the process of piloting an aircraft from one geographic position to another while monitoring one’s
positions as the flight progresses
• It introduces the need for:
o Plotting courses
o Selecting checkpoints
o Measuring distances
o Obtaining weather information
o Computing flight time, headings, and fuel requirements
• Navigation is performed through:
o Pilotage – navigating by reference to visible landmarks
o Dead reckoning – computations of time and distance
o Radio navigation – use of radio navigation aids
Overview
• Aeronautical Charts
• Latitude and Longitude
• Types of Airspeed
• Basic Calculations and Tools
• Pilotage
• Dead Reckoning
• Radio Navigation
• Flight Planning
• Charting the Course (VFR Nav Log)
• Filing a VFR Flight Plan
• Lost Procedures
• Flight Diversion
Aeronautical Charts
• Road map for a pilot flying under VFR
• Two aeronautical charts used by VFR pilots:
o Sectional
▪ Most commonly used
▪ Includes airport data, navigational aids, airspace, topography
▪ Revised semiannually
o Terminal Area
1
, ▪ Helpful when flying in or near Class B airspace
▪ Provide a more detailed display
▪ Revised semiannually
• Don’t forget about the Chart Legend and the Aeronautical Chart Users Guide!
Latitude and Longitude
• See PHAK Figure 16-4
• Lines parallel to the equator (east and west) are lines of latitude
o Used to measure degrees north or south
• Lines perpendicular (90 degrees) to the equator are lines of longitude
• Prime Meridian is “zero” longitude line and passes through Greenwich, England
• Any specific geographical point can be located by reference to its longitude and latitude
Time Zones
• See PHAK Figure 16-5
• Time zones established for each 15 degrees of longitude
o Four time zones in US: Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific
• Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) or “Zulu” time is used in aviation for standardization
o Due to the fact that pilots often cross several time zones during a flight
o UTC is the time at the zero degree line of longitude that passes through Greenwich, England
o Time can easily be converted back and forth from local to UTC by adding or subtracting
▪ Don’t forget about Daylight Saving Time (1 hour should be subtracted)
Measurements of Direction
• See PHAK Figure 16-8 through Figure 16-17
• True Course: course drawn on the chart from point to point and measured by reference to true north
• Wind Correction Angle: correction applied to the True Course to establish a heading so that the track coincides with
the course
• True Heading: direction in which the nose of the aircraft points during a flight with respect to true north; different
from true course due to the effects of wind
• Magnetic Variation: the angle between truth north and magnetic north
o Indicated by broken magenta lines called isogonic lines
o East is least (subtract), West is best (add)
• Magnetic Course: True Course corrected for Magnetic Variation; used for determining cruise altitudes above 3000’
AGL
• Magnetic Heading: True Heading corrected for Magnetic Variation
• Magnetic Deviation: error induced in a compass by local magnetic fields (electrical circuits, radio, lights, engine, etc)
o Indicated by Compass Deviation Card in aircraft (which is required to fly)
• Compass Heading: Magnetic Heading corrected for Magnetic Deviation; heading that you will fly with reference to
the compass or HI
To summarize:
Course – intended path of an aircraft over the ground
Heading – direction in which the nose of the aircraft points
Track – actual path made over the ground
Drift angle – angle between heading and track
WCA – correction applied to the course to establish a heading so that track coincides with course
Types of Airspeed
2
