1 in 60 Rule Flashcards
What does the 1 in 60 rule state?
If you are 1° off course and fly for 60NM, you will be 1NM off course.
NOTE: This applies to any unit of measurement. NM, SM, KM, whatever.
What is the rule of thumb for finding your opening and closing angles? Memorize this.
60 / Distance Flown X distance off course = Opening Angle
60 / Distance Remaining X distance off course = Closing Angle
What are the opening and closing angles?
It’s your track error in degrees. Or how many degrees off your planned track you are.
When you draw your 10° drift lines, its the angle between these lines and the track
How do you determin your open and closing angles if you have drifted off course?
60 / Distance Flown X distance off course = Opening Angle
60 / Distance Remaining X distance off course = Closing Angle
If you find at 30NM out from your departure, you are 2NM off course, how many degrees off course are you/what is your opening angle? What is your closing angle?
60 / Dist flown X Dist off track
60 / 30 = 2 x 2 = 4° off track
60 / dist remaining X Dist off Track
60 / 90 = 0.6 x 2 = 1.3°
What is a visual way TC may ask you to correct your track on the exam?
They may just give you a map, a marker on that map, and ask how many degrees off course you are. In this case, you will have to draw a course and ten degreee drift lines and use one of three methodes for getting back on track.
Read the wording on the question carefully, as this will indicate which of the three methodes they want you to use
What are the three methodes for visually correcting for track errors? What is important to remember about these three methodes for the exam?
- Visual Alteration method
- Double track method
- Opening and closing angles
The math for each of these will give you a slightly different answer. Its important to read the exam question carefully so you know which method they want you to use, cause you can bet they will have a correct answer for all three of these methods as options.
How does the visual alteration method work for correcting track errors?
This is simplest. You estimate how many degrees off track you are using your 10° drift lines, then use a visual landmark to get back on track. After that, decide a new track based on how far off you were.
What is the double track method of correcting track?
If the exam question mentions times, this is the methode to use.
This method only works up to the halfway point of your flight
What is the opening and closing angle method?
This method corrects to take you directly to your destination, not to regain your original track
The visual method and double track method will give you the same answer. Why is the opening and closing angle method going to give you a different answer?
Because visual and double track methods both bring you back to your original track and the opening and closing angle method corrects the track error only to bring you directly to your destination over a new track.
On the exam, what might the wording sound like if they want you to use the opening and closing angles method to correct for track error?
“After flying for a period of time, you notice that you are over town X. To get to your destination, what heading should you fly?”
The key here is to get you to your destination. It didn’t say to get back on your original track.
If an exam question is worded like this ““After flying for a period of time, you notice that you are over town X. To regain your track, what heading should you fly?”
If the town is past your halfway point, you will have to use the visual method, as you can’t use the double track method if you are past half way.
“To ragain your track after ten minutes…” wording like this would indicate they want you to use which method to correct for drift?
The double track method
